Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org or 402.687.2100 ext. 1025
Lyons, Nebraska - The Center for Rural Affairs is once again circulating a statewide small business needs assessment survey, to explore how Nebraska small businesses are faring. This survey is the 5th biennial survey conducted by the organization.
The short survey, which only takes about 6 minutes to complete, is for business owners and those that serve them (including lenders and resource providers).
“The biennial Small Business Needs Assessment survey started in 2008 as more of an internal review to evaluate our current products and services in relation to what Nebraska businesses need. It has blossomed into a very valuable study, not only for our 25-year old lending program, but for other service providers across the state and beyond,” said Dena Beck, with the Center. “As we approach our 5th study, we are hopeful for the best response yet.”
Beck encourages business owners and service providers to take a few minutes to take the survey and share their feedback.
“The small business climate in Nebraska is constantly changing. Meeting the needs of startup and existing small businesses is extremely important to all the organizations and entities that provide small business services," commented Jeff Reynolds, REAP Program Director. "As with previous surveys, the Center for Rural Affairs will use the results of this 'needs' based survey to help shape future programming with the ultimate goal of enhancing programming to best serve the critical needs of today’s entrepreneurs.”
According to Reynolds, previous surveys resulted in the Center creating bookkeeping training. “After the very first survey in 2008, survey respondents indicated a huge need for bookkeeping training. That’s a need we immediately filled and are still filling eight years later. At this point we currently contract with at least six people who offer that kind of training to fill that need. It’s now a big part of our curriculum.”
Reynolds stated, “This is a valued survey, not only within our organization and in Nebraska, but it’s read throughout the United States.”
The Center is Nebraska’s largest microenterprise program and is committed to meeting the needs of startup and existing entrepreneurs in rural Nebraska. The Center provides lending, loan packaging, training, networking, and technical assistance opportunities for startup and existing small businesses.
