2024: A Year of Growth & Success

2024: A Year of Growth and Success

As we approach the end of 2024, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is reflecting on an incredible year of growth and impact. This year, we had the privilege of helping hundreds of local businesses navigate challenges, seize new opportunities, and achieve their goals. From launching innovative marketing strategies to securing vital funding, we’ve been honored to be part of your success stories. Our team has worked tirelessly to provide expert guidance, resources, and support, and it’s inspiring to see the resilience and achievements of the businesses we've assisted. As we enter the holiday season, we want to express our gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in us. We look forward to continuing to partner with you in 2025 and helping you reach even greater heights. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and here’s to a bright and prosperous year ahead!

A VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP

We are thrilled to share the success of one of our clients who has benefited from our recent partnership. Through this collaboration, our client was able to access invaluable technical assistance and expertise that played a pivotal role in the development of her product. The support provided by SATOP’s network of professionals allowed her to refine her product design, optimize production processes and costs, and overcome technical challenges that might have otherwise slowed her progress. This partnership exemplifies the power of combining resources and expertise to drive innovation and business growth. We are proud to be part of her journey and excited to see how this continued collaboration will propel her business forward.

The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) is a State of Texas funded program administered by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. SATOP provides FREE technical assistance to small businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs located in Texas. This assistance in turn helps create jobs, new products for the market and stimulate the economy.

40 HOUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Eligible entrepreneurs and small businesses located in Texas can be provided with up to 40 hours of FREE technical assistance. Requests must have a distinct and identifiable engineering challenge that appears solvable in the 40-hour limit. Through this program SATOP cannot fund a project, build a prototype, or compete with commercially available services/products. To qualify, the small business must be a Texas business and have one of the following:

Patent ■ Provisional Patent ■ Prototype ■ Engineering Drawings

Our Next Workshop

Our next workshop, HR Interview Essentials with Krystal Woolley, is coming up on January 21, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Tarleton Research & Economic Development Building in Stephenville, TX. In a competitive job market, interview techniques are essential for hiring managers and candidates. This session will equip you with the skills to build a high-performing team, recognize the impact of hiring mistakes, and structure an effective interview process. Krystal Woolley will guide you through asking insightful questions and avoiding common pitfalls, empowering you to make confident hiring decisions. Don’t miss out—reserve your spot today. Click here to register.

Upcoming Speakers

The "How I Built It" Speaker Series, hosted by the SBDC at Tarleton State University, invites you to hear the stories of small business owners and serial entrepreneurs on their journey to success. This bi-monthly event is designed to inspire and support the small business community in North Texas by sharing real-world experiences, covering topics like overcoming failures, learning from setbacks, adapting to change, and more.

The upcoming session, scheduled for January 16, 2025 from 5:30 PM to

7:00 PM at our office in Stephenville, TX. Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming session, as well as future sessions, which will feature additional accomplished speakers from diverse industries, providing even more valuable perspectives and advice. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn and network, and don't forget to register by clicking here!

Success Story: Common Grounds Coffeehouse

Marco and Yesy Sandoval, former educators and administrators from Odessa, felt a strong desire for change. They relocated to their lake house in Brownwood, Texas, where their son was attending Howard Payne University. Enjoying their time serving coffee at a local church, they decided to turn this passion into a business. Common Grounds Coffeehouse offers a selection of coffees and lattes along with breakfast and lunch. 

In 2011, Common Grounds Coffeehouse opened in a small building that quickly gained popularity. Having outgrown their original location, their prayers were answered when they found out the old city fire station was for sale. The station was originally built in 1964 but had been sitting vacant for seven years. With assistance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), they secured financing, purchased the building, and began extensive renovations. The process was lengthy, taking two years due to COVID-19 and supply chain challenges. They finally moved into their new space in 2022. Common Grounds Coffeehouse continues to thrive, featuring an eye-catching old fire truck and a photo album that showcases the station's history. They now roast their own organic beans from six different origins. The house blend combines the rich flavors of Honduran, Mexican, and Colombian coffees, and customers can also purchase beans to take home. The Sandovals plan to start selling their beans online soon. 

The coffeehouse hosts live music on Fridays and has repurposed the former dormitory of the fire station into a versatile event room, perfect for clubs, meetings, and more. With ample seating options, including a shaded back patio and a front patio adorned with umbrellas, Common Grounds has become a welcoming spot for the community.

America's SBDC at Tarleton State University

1225 N. US Highway 281, Stephenville, TX, 76401

Email | Phone: 254-968-0558 | Website

A member of the Northwest Texas SBDC Network