Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Can Network and Grow at TCD’s Upcoming Resource Fair
February 7, 2025
The Twin Cities Development Association (TCD) will host a free Business Resource Fair at the Gering Civic Center on Monday, February 24th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members are invited to attend and meet with resource providers in the area.
“Attending this event is a great way to receive face-to-face support from experts who can help grow your business,” says Jordan Diedrich, Executive Director at TCD. “Whether you are just starting out and need financial guidance or have plans to grow in the future, you can meet with people who know how to turn your goals into actionable plans.”
This event kicks off “Business Connect” Week, an initiative dedicated to supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs in our community. One notable organization in attendance is SourceLink Nebraska, which provides personalized, one-on-one resource coaching and connections to business resources. If you aren’t familiar with SourceLink Nebraska, now is a great time to learn how they help businesses of all sizes and industries. Learn more about this group and the value they provide.
SourceLink Nebraska Connects Business Owners With Local Resources
SourceLink Nebraska is powered by the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), a center part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration. After multiple years of development and planning, SourceLink Nebraska officially launched in November 2021. NBDC serves all Nebraska communities and has offices in Omaha, Lincoln, Wayne, Norfolk, Kearney, North Platte, Chadron, and Scottsbluff.
“Our sweet spot is providing one-on-one assistance that allows us to create personal action plans,” says Scott Asmus, Program Director at SourceLink Nebraska. “Our goal is to find the right resource at the right time for the business that needs it. Fortunately, there’s a lot of support in Nebraska, so we have many resources and programs to recommend.”
SourceLink Nebraska has made an impressive name for itself in the years since it debuted. Since November of 2021, it has:
- Listed more than 3,200 business-themed events and training.
- Made more than 434,000 online referrals.
- Made more than 11,000 direct referrals.
- Created more than 800 action plans.
SourceLink Nebraska has identified more than 500 organizations across the state and more than 1,000 resources to recommend to business owners and entrepreneurs. It takes a local, regional, and statewide approach to connecting people with valuable programs. The tailored personalized plans by SourceLink Nebraska also allow business owners to access training resource partners such as Nebraska’s Entrepreneur Education Collaborative.
All Businesses Can Benefit From Meeting With SourceLink Nebraska
Business Connect Week is designed to highlight the value of this organization to anyone who lives in Western Nebraska. You can follow the Business Connect website to see where SourceLink Nebraska representatives will be next or request a personalized action plan online. The meetings with SourceLink Nebraska are entirely free and confidential. This group will do their best to guide you to relevant resources, no matter what pain points you’re dealing with or opportunities you want to pursue.
Asmus says Business Connect is not just for new entrepreneurs. Experienced business owners can also benefit from talking with SourceLink Nebraska.
“Most business leaders are so engrossed by their day-by-day operations that they don’t have time to research programs and opportunities to access business support resources,” he says. “Maybe you want to grow and need help hiring employees. Maybe you need capital to expand but don’t know where to look for it. Consider us your business concierge showing you where to go.”
Asmus says business owners often come to him and say in a complementary manner, “Where were you a year ago?” when they were going through a difficult period. He can’t travel back in time, but he can be available to you today.
Expect to See SourceLink Nebraska Out in the Community
Many people think SourceLink Nebraska is just a website for finding resources, but that’s just the first part of the services it provides. It is a much deeper program designed to support business development in this state. Nebraska is stronger when its small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed, and SourceLink Nebraska wants to direct people to as many support systems as possible.
“Yes, we have a virtual presence, but we’re looking for ways to enter the community and provide personalized support as well,” says Asmus. The team at SourceLink Nebraska will often directly reach out to resource providers that we recommend to business owners. Instead of only sharing resources, we help build connections.
Meet TCD, SourceLink Nebraska, and Others on February 24
Business owners and entrepreneurs across Western Nebraska can attend the Business Resource Fair for free on February 24 and continue meeting with SourceLink Nebraska from February 25-27. Even if you cannot make this window, there are other opportunities to connect with SourceLink Nebraska and receive your personalized action plan.
More information about the Business Resource Fair is coming soon. Follow TCD to learn more and keep up with other events for local entrepreneurs. Twin Cities Development is committed to being a resource for the local business community. Read about our resource-sharing efforts and how they are strengthened through community partners like Sourcelink Nebraska.
