Champaign,IL– Greg Gonda and Chirag Shah with the Small Business Development Center at Champaign County Economic Development Corporation have been certified as Business Development Advisors by the Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association. They met the requirements as specified by the private/public partnership of the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and were awarded the certification at the annual IESBGA Conference.

Mr. Gonda is the Director of the SBDC and Mr. Shah is the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialist. The SBDC at Champaign County EDC offers no-fee counseling for existing and startup businesses. It is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Greg Gonda and Chirag Shah with the Small Business Development Center at the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation have been certified as facilitators in the Kauffman Foundation FastTrac® workshops.

FastTrac® programs are practical, hands-on business development courses designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow successful businesses. FastTrac® participants don’t just learn about the business, they live it. They work on their own business ideas or ventures throughout the program – moving their ventures to reality or to new levels of growth.

Mr. Gonda is the Director of the SBDC and was certified in the FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ program. This program provides the tools and support to carefully review and evaluate important aspects of your business, explore next-stage growth and opportunity and reshape your existing company for future profitability and improved operating performance.

Mr. Shah is the Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialist and was certified in the FastTrac® TechVenture™ program. This program provides the tools to develop and/or hone the skills you need to understand the business behind the technology – skills to start, operate, fund and grow a technology or science-based business.

The SBDC at Champaign County EDC offers no-fee counseling for existing and startup businesses. It is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.