Bennett honored as Friend of the Year

Small Towns
Contact(s)

Griselda Rendon, Latino loan specialist, griseldar@cfra.org, 308.850.4820; or Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, rheal@cfra.org, 402.687.2100 ext 1025

Lyons, Nebraska - The Center for Rural Affairs has chosen Sara Bennett, of Grand Island, Nebraska, as its 2017 Friend of the Year. Center staff will recognize Bennett at an award ceremony on March 9 in Red Cloud, Nebraska.

The Friend of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual, organization, or institution that provides invaluable service to entrepreneurs by assisting staff in offering technical assistance, business training, loans, and networking across rural Nebraska.

Bennett is the associate director of the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), business consultant, certified valuations analyst, and certified exit planning advisor. She has been serving small businesses in central Nebraska for more than seven years, and has offices in Grand Island and Kearney.

“Sara seeks us out for trainings and assistance for her clients, as well as financing, when she sees a need,” said Dena Beck, loan specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs. “She is a great resource to our businesses and assists them with preparing for Small Business Administration Guaranteed Loan applications and market research. In addition, she helps them understand industry standards for their businesses.”

Another service Bennet provides is succession planning and business valuations. She provides a “much-needed service to our aging business owners in Nebraska,” according to Beck.

“Sara has been involved with Women’s Business Center trainings and is an outstanding referral source,” said Griselda Rendon, Latino loan specialist with the Center for Rural Affairs. “Sara makes herself available if questions come up and is always willing to assist and provide additional resources to meet our clients’ needs.”

Bennett helped implement the Grand Island Small Business Resource Team, a group of area business resources, to better assist entrepreneurs and business owners in the area.

For a full list of award winners, click here.

The Center for Rural Affairs is a private nonprofit specializing in strengthening small businesses, rural communities, and family farms and ranches.

Center for Rural Affairs receives funding from the Small Business Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Business and Innovation Act through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, United States Department of Treasury, Peter Kiewit Foundation, and other sources. The Women’s Business Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All Small Business Administration funded programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or persons with limited English proficiency will be made if requested in advance. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.