Reimagining Main Street

Carrie Hill is a Haudenosaunee woman from Akwesasne Mohawk Territory and owner of Chill Baskets. In 2014, Carrie left her position at the Mohawk School in Hogansburg to pursue basket-making full-time. She takes a contemporary approach using traditional weaving techniques handed down through generations of black ash splint and sweetgrass artisans. She teaches basket weaving to all ages and is very proud to pass this ancient tradition to her children, her community, and the next generations of artistic leaders. Advisor Michelle Collins has worked with Carrie for more than six years, assisting her with business planning, marketing, record keeping, applications for Covid relief funding, and more.

With six SBDCs located in Ohio's Appalachian-designated counties, SBDC support for Appalachian business is never more than a quick trip or phone call away. In 2022, 1,740 Appalachian-based businesses received more than 16,500 hours of SBDC advising. These clients helped create and retain more then 2,500 jobs and $49.3 million in increased sales.  Ohio SBDC at Ohio University helps businesses like Kountry Resorts to a destination.

Genipha Backoulou fondly remembers her childhood in Africa with her grandmother, who made quality soaps and lotions from local ingredients. After moving to China and then the U.S., Genipha wanted to continue the family tradition of soap making and was encouraged by her friends to start her own business in Oklahoma. While planning how to get the necessary ingredients, Genipha reached out to the Oklahoma SBDC and was assigned Claudia Pannell as her business advisor. Genipha focused primarily on marketing her organic soaps to her community, while Claudia focused on the technical documents needed for the business. Genipha now successfully sells high-quality soaps that she makes from home and looks to expand with manufacturers in the future.

Owner of Skin Care by Glenda

At the urging of her family, Nora Jenkins contacted the Florence SBDC to pursue upgrading her catering service, her side hustle at the time to a brick-and-mortar restaurant. When events seemed to conspire against her, Nora decided to follow her heart and open an adult day care facility instead. Consultant Charles Page helped his client write a new business plan, calculate financial projections and obtain a commercial loan for $529,000 despite previous denials. In November 2022, to the relief of Bennettsville families seeking quality geriatric care for their loved ones, Ms. Jenkins opened Nora's Caring Companions Adult Day Care. “The SC SBDC has been a Godsend,” she said. “Charles helped me immensely, both professionally and personally."