Delta State University is providing local entrepreneurs with resources and support to plan, start or grow their small business through its Business Assistance Center (BAC).

The BAC provides high-quality services for entrepreneurial startups and women-owned businesses located within its 10-county service area, including Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Tallahatchie, Tunica, Yazoo, and Washington counties.

Services offered by the center include business planning, financial literacy, hybrid and virtual business training, federal procurement, bidding, and technical assistance for COVID-19 resources and grants to qualified entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses.

BAC Director Gene Finley said the center will host a variety of unique programs and trainings to support local entrepreneurs and ensure their success.

“The BAC will offer and manage several new small-business and job-creation programs strategically designed for the Mississippi Delta,” said Finley. “The first program, Delta Up, will provide stimulus support for emerging small and women-owned businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The second program, Entrepreneurial Advantage (EA), will deliver training on local, state, and federal contracting opportunities.”

According to Finley, the BAC will routinely offer technical business support services to potential startups and existing small businesses.

The center will also provide technical assistance as well as help direct and coordinate small and women-owned businesses with bookkeeping services and counseling in an effort to help keep their businesses profitable.

The Business Assistance Center is located inside the DSU Center for Community and Economic Development, located at 1417 College Street, Cleveland, MS 38732. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To learn more, visit www.deltastate.edu/cced/business-assistance-center.

For questions, contact Finley at (662) 846-4907 or gnfinley@deltastate.edu.