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Small Business Development Director Ted Bair presents Mijean Beyer with the NanoLoan.

Mijean Beyer, owner of Spirited Dove Creations, received a $2,500 NanoLoan from North Iowa Area Community College’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center to pay startup costs for her custom artwork business. 

Beyer, of Mason City, creates one-of-a-kind artwork creations on apparel for all ages.  She will be a regular vendor at the Mason City Farmer’s Market, located in the K-Mart parking lot, as well as attending many local festivals. 

“I went into the FastTrac® class wanting to paint t-shirts, but knowing nothing about starting or running a business.  I would recommend the FastTrac® class to anyone that is starting a business or is at a standstill in their existing business.  The people at the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center are always there, warm and friendly, ready to answer questions – and I had many! – and are there to help with your business in any way they can,” Beyer said.

NIACC’s NanoLoan program targets a specific, underserved segment of the entrepreneurial community; businesses in the ‘pre-bankable’ phase. NanoLoans represent one part of a selection of financial programs to support North Iowa businesses.  NanoLoans up to $2,500 can be used to move a business model farther along in its development by paying for prototype development, patents, equipment, working capital and other start up costs.   Other programs accessible through the NIACC JPEC include revolving loan funds, federal and state programs, North Iowa Venture Capital Funds I & II, Wellmark Venture funding, Farm Bureau and other angel/venture capital funds.

NanoLoan applicants are required to successfully complete the FastTrac® New Venture™ course; a 10 week ‘business boot camp’ that exposes entrepreneurs to key aspects of being a small business owner and helps them put together a business plan. FastTrac® graduates from NIACC have enjoyed significantly better business survival rates with over 200 businesses founded by graduates since 1997 and over 78% of them still in business today.

For more information on the NIACC JPEC NanoLoan program, call (641) 422-4342 or visit www.niacc.edu/pappajohn. 

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is located on the North Iowa Area Community College campus in Mason City, Iowa and provides college level courses and degree programs in entrepreneurship, as well as comprehensive consulting services for business start-ups, existing industries and owner transitions in the North Iowa region.  Space is available in the new North Iowa Business Incubator for start-up businesses.  For more information, contact the NIACC JPEC at 641-422-4342.

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