Northwest Minnesota Foundation Funds New BSU Marketing and Research Solutions Center

Thanks to a grant from Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Bemidji, businesses in northwest Minnesota now have access to top quality marketing services at an affordable rate. Recently, the College of Professional Studies and the Department of Business Administration at Bemidji State University were awarded a two-year grant for start-up of a Marketing and Research Solutions Center on campus.

The $50,000 grant will help fill a great need of businesses in the foundation’s service area. The Center will employ upper division business administration students to conduct market research for businesses, nonprofits and government agencies located primarily in the northwest region of Minnesota.

The Center will work closely with the Regional Small Business Development Center to serve the research needs of its clients, including Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s microloan and business development loan applicants and recipients. Referrals will also be made by the Regional Development Commissions, economic development agencies and banks.

“This program was designed after a very successful marketing assistance center at Southwest Minnesota State,” said foundation president John Ostrem. “It will be a nice tie-in with the SBDC, which was also funded by the foundation, and provide a great training ground for future employees in our area.”

For more information about the Center, contact Dave Smith, assistant professor of marketing at BSU, dsmith@bemidjistate.edu, 218.755.4122.

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