STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

Acorn Growth Companies
2701 Liberty Parkway, Suite J, Midwest City, OK 73110
Phone: (405) 737-2676
Fax: (405) 732-4141
E-mail: jeff@acorngrowthcompanies.com
URL: http://www.acorngrowthcompanies.com/

"Acorn Growth Companies is a private, enterprise development firm that accelerates the growth and evolution of small, niche-specific companies. Our three-pronged strategy includes flexible facilities, best of breed support and capital infusion."

Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence
2709 West I-44 Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Phone: (405) 601-1930
Fax: (405) 601-1935
E-mail: info@helpyourbiz.org
URL: http://www.helpyourbiz.org/

"We are a program offered through Institution Programs, Inc. (IPI), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation established in Oklahoma in 1979. We are funded primarily by a federal grant offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Women's Business Ownership and private sector donations from Terry Neese and various corporations such as Cox Business Services, BancFirst Commercial Capital, Office Depot and others."

Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency
Les Chambers Building, PO Box 664, 31 South Main Street, Lexington, OK 73051
Phone: (405) 527-5663
E-mail: msomers@cocaa.org
URL: http://www.cocaa.org/

"Central Oklahoma CAA facilitates micro-enterprise development programs such as the Self-Employment and Entrepreneurial Development System (SEEDS). The program is designed to assist individuals who posses the ability and drive necessary to operate their own business, but my not be able to secure traditional financing for a new business start-up. Through this program, low-interest loans and technical assistance are available to qualified applicants."

Cherokee Nation Small Business Assistance Center
P O Box 948, Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465
Phone: (918) 456-0671
Fax: (918) 458-4295
E-mail: aknight@cherokee.org
URL: http://www.cherokee.org/Services/Commerce.asp

-Micro-enterprise loans shall be made for business creation and business expansion efforts that create or maintain jobs. -Native American entrepreneurs residing and operating their businesses in the rural areas of the Cherokee Nation Jurisdictional Boundaries (rural areas include everywhere except cities with populations of over 25,000) are this programs target market. Interest rate is the New York Prime Lending Rate, as stated in the Wall Street Journal, on the date of loan closing. Maximum loan term is 7 years. -
-Allowable loan purposes include all various business costs, except real estate.
-Applicants must have 25% equity in their project and adequate collateral.
-Owners equity may be in the form of cash or free and clear business assets.
-Applicants must submit a business plan for a feasible business venture (technical assistance is available).

Community Action Resource and Development, Inc.
522 W. Will Rogers Boulevard, P.O. Box 947, Claremore, Oklahoma 74018
Phone: (918) 341-5000 ext 403
Fax: (918) 343-2492
E-mail: gzach48760@aol.com
URL: http://www.cardcaa.org/seeds.htm

"S.E.E.D.S. is an acronym for Self-Employed Entrepreneurial Development System. It is a program designed to assist individuals who have the desire to be self-employed, but have been unable to start their own business due to several factors such as lack of small business management training or lack of personal funds to start-up a small business and have been unsuccessful in obtaining business financing through conventional sources."

Meridian Technology Center
1312 South Sangre Road, Stillwater, OK 74074-1899
Phone: (405) 377-3333
E-mail: info@meridian-technology.com
URL: http://www.meridian-technology.com

"The Meridian Technology Center Business Incubator and the Oklahoma Technology and Research Park have just what you need to build your workforce and company."

Oklahoma Department of Commerce
900 North Stiles, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0980
Phone: (405) 815-6552 OR (800) 879-6552
E-mail: bddinfo@odoc.state.ok.us
URL: http://okcommerce.gov/

• New and Small Business Resources
  URL: http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=321&Itemid=404
  
  
• Oklahoma Business Resource Directory (PDF file; 49 pages)
  URL: http://fcs.okstate.edu/microbiz/directory.pdf

Oklahoma Small Business Development Center
State Office
Southeastern State University, Durant, OK 74701
Toll Free: (800) 522-6154
E-mail: OSBDC@OSBDC.org
URL: http://www.oklahomasmallbusiness.org/

"The mission of the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center is to provide high quality one-to-one business counseling, economic development assistance, and training to small businesses and prospective small businesses."

Oklahoma State University
Glen Muske, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Home-Based and Micro Business Specialist
Design, Housing and Merchandising
104 Human Environmental Sciences, Room 336, Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405.744.9931
Email: muske@okstate.edu
URL: http://fcs.okstate.edu/microbiz

"Provides resources for starting a micro or home-based business in Oklahoma."

Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center
840 Research Parkway, Suite 250, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: (405) 235-2305 or (800) 337-OTCC (Toll Free)
Fax: (405) 235-2252
E-mail: Tom_Walker@otcc.org
URL: http://www.otcc.org

"To create wealth for the citizens of Oklahoma and enhance the state's image as an attractive and successful venue in which to start and grow businesses based on advanced technology."

Rural Enterprises, Inc.
PO Box 1335, Durant, OK 74702
Phone: (405) 924-5094
Fax: (405) 920-2745
URL: http://www.ruralenterprises.com/

"REI's incubator program offers start-up and expanding businesses a place to begin, grow, and mature into profitable concerns. Benefits include tax incentives, reduced rent, access to financing, equipment, and consistent business assistance.
Service Area: Statewide."

Small Business Development Resources for Oklahoma Disability Resource Guide
URL: http://www.okrehab.org/indexmanual.html

Tulsa Economic Development Corporation
907 South Detroit Avenue, Suite 1001, Tulsa, OK 74120
Phone: (918) 585-8332
Fax: (918) 585-2473
URL: http://www.tulsaedc.com/

Service Area: Adair, Canadian, Cherokee, Cleveland, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Hayes, Hughes, Kay, Latimer, Leflore, Lincoln, Logan, McIntosh, Muskogee, Noble, Nowata, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Seminole, Sequoyah, Wagoner, Washington, and Wayne counties including the city of Tulsa.