Grant Supports Hire of Additional Business Consultant
Pizza Franchise Founder Is Latest to Join Team Offering Free Business Consulting
The founder of a successful pizza restaurant franchise is the latest consultant to join the team offering no-cost, confidential business assistance to Green County area residents.
Jason Schleip is now available to meet with entrepreneurs and small business owners. His position as part-time consultant is funded through a grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to the Green County Development Corporation. GCDC partners with the Southwest Wisconsin Small Business Development Center to provide free business consulting services.
Schleip co-founded Falbo Brothers Pizza with a friend in 1992 while still a student at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Within a year, he had bought out his friend and then continued to grow the business into a multi-state franchise. When he sold it in 2016, there were 13 locations in Wisconsin, Iowa and Texas. Schleip has a degree in Economics from the UW.
“I am excited to work with small business owners in Southwestern Wisconsin,” Schleip said. “Working with franchisees, as well as owners of other small businesses, over the past 25 years has been great. Now I get the opportunity to use the knowledge and experience I have gained to help others,” he said. “The SBDC is an outstanding resource.”
He brings his unique qualifications to the SBDC team led by senior business consultant Brock Waterman and business consultant Kristi Smith.
“Having Jason is a wonderful addition to our consulting team,” said Cara Carper, GCDC executive director. “His background starting and building a successful restaurant brand, and franchising it, is truly invaluable. Entrepreneurs in the Green County area will be able to draw on Jason’s expertise and insights – his skillset is a great complement to the services we offer.”
Schleip and the other consultants work with new and existing companies on business planning, access to loans/other funding, financial management, growth strategies, sales/marketing and operational improvement. Businesses are referred to the SBDC by economic development professionals, lenders, chambers, business service providers, business owners and others.
WEDC awarded a total of $500,000 in grants throughout the state to develop or expand entrepreneurship programs throughout the state, with the largest grant of $80,000 going to Green County.
SBDC’s no-cost, confidential consulting is intended to help boost small business startups and growth as part of the Green County Entrepreneurial Development Program, which has a goal of creating 15 to 20 jobs and garnering business investment of more than $1 million. For the entire region, which includes Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland counties, SBDC’s goal is to serve 200 clients, generate $4 million in business investment, start 17 new businesses and support 800 jobs.
A similar grant last year allowed Smith to join the team. During 2018, the regional SBDC office assisted 167 clients, leading to 11 new business starts and $7.47 million in business investment.
To learn more, visit http://www.wisconsinsbdc.org/swwi. To sign up for free consulting, email swwisbdc@uwex.edu or sign up online at http://tinyurl.com/SWWISBDC.
GCDC, a multi-jurisdictional economic development corporation, was formed to bring professional economic development expertise to its member communities to create a competitive advantage to spur job creation and new investments. The organization is building the economic future of Green County communities and businesses through public-private partnerships. For more information, visit GCDC at online at www.greencountyedc.com or call 608.328.9452.