According to Dublin development director Dana McDaniel, several entrepreneurs have called to get appointments before the open house. More than 300 people have reserved a spot at the open house, where the DEC will showcase the services it offers to small businesses.
"The office has been receiving phone calls from small business people who are anxious that if they wait until the open house, they'll get closed out of the space," said Colleen Gilger, Dublin's economic development administrator.
McDaniel said excitement is building about the DEC, 7003 Post Road.
"We've been working on it for over a year, trying to build relationships to support it," he said.
"The fact is the physical building has been located there for many, many years," Gilger added. "The facility is not new, but what we're putting in the facility is new."
The facility includes businesses such as TechColumbus, which can help startup businesses get off the ground, and also offers space for the new businesses to locate.
"What we're focused on is building relationships with other agencies and organizations that can help build support for other companies," McDaniel said. "In partnership with the owners of the building, they're allowing short-term leases and leases by office to support new fledgling companies to get up and running."
TechColumbus, Columbus State Community College's center for work force development, the Small Business Development Council, Platform Lab and Center for Innovative Food Technology are located in the DEC.
"We have a TechColumbus staff person who is located here and is providing support. Rick Coplin is in the building and is helping us find companies. By virtue of having him here we are receiving TechColumbus services like entrepreneurial coaching, mentoring and access to capital," McDaniel said. "The couple of other services are the Small Business Development Council who intends to do training there. They can help companies with business plan writing and getting access to loans."
McDaniel said wireless Internet will be provided as well as many networking opportunities.
"There's also a virtual presence," he said. "There's social networking going on with the technology startup. People are meeting virtually and physically and are tying themselves into the entrepreneurial center."
While the open house will offer small businesses and entrepreneurs a look into the services available at the DEC, McDaniel said the facility is open for business any time.
"The DEC is open for business and operational," he said. "We have meetings scheduled already."
The open house will run from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 19. To reserve a spot at the event, RSVP by March 12 on Dublin's Web site, www.dublin.oh.us.
A class taught by the Small Business Development Council on marketing, financing, sales and growth will be available during the March 19 open house, with registration on the city's Web site.
For more information on the DEC or to schedule a visit, contact the city's economic development department at (614) 410-4618.
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