I had the opportunity to meet with Cliff Reynolds, Director and Don Knechtges, Senior Advisor of Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise today. GLIDE. Working in conjunction with the Lorain County Community College, they offer counsel, connections and services to entrepreneurs thinking about business, starting a business or growing a business.

Both Cliff and Don had an impressive corporate background before coming to work with GLIDE. Cliff started DIY Home Warehouse in 1984 and grew the business to $220mm in annual sales before selling in 2000. Prior to leading the operations of GLIDE, Don served as Chief Development Officer for PolyOne, a $3.5 billion Cleveland based organization with its production facilities located in Avon Lake.

The GLIDE process is to do a business assessment and then determine strengths and weaknesses of the business. With over 120 business resources, they connect entrepreneurs with resources that will fill in the gaps where the business owner is weak.

In the six years they have been helping the community; they have worked with over 500 businesses with a goal of creating jobs in Lorain and NE Ohio. In fact, unlike other incubators, they have a unique offering for those making the GLIDE headquarters their business office. By creating a job in Lorain, you'll receive 12 months of rent free. Create a second job and extend the free rent for an additional 6 months.

I was impressed with the services Cliff, Don and the team at GLIDE offer to entrepreneurs; it's practical, comprehensive and FREE.

Check out the Business Resources available from their website.

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer, Entrepreneur and new GLIDE Resource
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