Archbold, Ohio (3-31-26) – Northwest State Community College celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship and the power of small business and partnership through the combined efforts of NACCE and Economic Development offices of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding and Williams Counties. NSCC is hosting its 12th annual Entrepreneurship Forum on Thursday, April 30th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Voinovich Auditorium. This FREE event is open to all residents of the above-listed participating counties with a business idea and want help in moving it forward.

Front row L to R: Robbin Wilcox, Executive Director-Development and NSCC Foundation, and Lisa Becher, NSCC business faculty and Director of Small Business Development Center at NSCC. Back row L to R: Jennifer Arps, Henry County CIC Director, Ashley Epling, Williams County CIC Director, Tim Copsey, Paulding County CIC Director, Jim Wyse, Fulton County CIC Director, Cara Boehm, Director of Business Development and Marketing Defiance County, Erika Willitzer, Defiance County CIC Director.

Access to capital remains one of the greatest barriers facing new business owners—particularly those with limited financial resources or restricted cash flow. Seed funding can help entrepreneurs purchase equipment, strengthen marketing and sales efforts, and expand their customer base. The 2026 Entrepreneurship Forum provides budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of experts from the region, and to network with those experts – both very valuable experiences. The panel will be comprised of Economic Development representatives from each of the five counties, a “People’s Choice” award of $250 will be sponsored by WesBanco, and another $250 tech-based award will be sponsored by the Mercy Health – Toledo’s Innovation Program.

The competition is supported by a $10,000 grant from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) through its Everyday Entrepreneur Program, along with $2,000 from each participating county’s Economic Development office, to be allocated at their discretion. Together, these funds will provide critical startup capital to help offset early operating expenses and accelerate business growth.

Lydia Perez-Kavanagh, Project Coordinator for NACCE

“The NACCE Everyday Entrepreneur team is thrilled to continue our partnership with Northwest State Community College. We have enjoyed watching the momentum and success Northwest State has built through the Everyday Entrepreneur program, and we are excited for what lies ahead. We are especially grateful to Lisa Becher, whose leadership, dedication, and tireless effort continue to make the Everyday Entrepreneur program a powerful force for student and community impact at Northwest State.”

HOW TO REGISTER

People can register for the Entrepreneurship Forum by emailing Lisa Becher at LBecher@NorthwestState.edu or NWOhioSBDC@gmail.com. Registration is required for everyone and is free of charge. Space is limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged. “Free consultation services will be provided by the Small Business Development Center,” Becher said. Of note, a presentation template is required, and is available by contacting Lisa Becher at the email addresses above.

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Northwest State Community College is an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education that has served northwest Ohio since 1969. Northwest State is committed to providing a quality, affordable education with personal attention and small class sizes. The College offers associate degrees with numerous transfer options, short-term certificate programs, and workforce training programs designed to meet the needs of local businesses and industries. For more information, visit NorthwestState.edu or call 419.267.5511.