ARCHBOLD, Ohio – Northwest State Community College (NSCC) is hosting a Business Financing Workshop, a free seminar on Tuesday, June 9th, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Voinovich Auditorium on the Archbold Campus. The event includes an overview of the CEED Initiative, a presentation about financial readiness and a special presentation by The Union Bank Co.

The workshop is part of CEED to Success, a national pilot program designed to expand entrepreneurship and business financing education for underserved founders, with a focus on veteran-, women-, and minority-owned businesses. Through this initiative, NSCC is partnering with Baker Hill, the program’s founder, and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) to bring these resources to the local community.

Lisa Becher, NSCC business faculty and the director of the Northwest Ohio Small Business Development Center

“At NSCC, we are committed to ensuring that every aspiring entrepreneur, especially those from historically underserved communities, has access to the knowledge, resources, and strategic partnerships needed to secure capital and successfully grow their business.”

The workshop brings together entrepreneurs, lenders and economic development experts to help attendees navigate the funding landscape. Programming includes an overview of resources for area entrepreneurs, a financing fundamentals presentation led by The Union Bank Co.

Dirk Soma, director, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Baker Hill

“CEED to Success isn’t just a program — it’s a catalyst for systemic change. By working alongside NACCE and aligning education, entrepreneurship and local partnerships, we’re building resilient ecosystems where underserved entrepreneurs don’t just start businesses; they drive lasting, community-centered impact.”

This collaboration underscores a shared mission: turning entrepreneurial dreams into tangible success stories by making business loans more accessible — especially for underserved populations.

Austin Brown, SBA Manager at The Union Bank Co.

“Too often, entrepreneurs are told to ‘get bankable’ without ever being shown what that actually means. Through CEED, we have an opportunity to demystify the lending process, answer real questions, and help founders understand how to position their businesses for capital access and long-term growth. When financial institutions show up early as educators and partners, not just lenders, the entire small business ecosystem gets stronger.”

The importance of this effort is reflected in the broader small business landscape: recent U.S. Census data show that women-owned and minority-owned firms each represent more than one in five employer businesses nationwide, while veteran-owned businesses remain a significant force in communities across the country. As these entrepreneurs continue to grow their economic impact, initiatives like CEED to Success help ensure they also have clearer pathways to the financing knowledge, relationships and resources needed to scale.

RSVP to reserve your spot today! Contact Lisa Becher at LBecher@NorthwestState.edu.

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About Union Bank Co.

Since 1904, The Union Bank Company has been committed to providing the very best banking products and services to the communities and businesses it serves throughout Northwest and Central Ohio.

Headquartered in Columbus Grove, the bank has grown to include 14 full-service branch locations in Bowling Green, Columbus Grove, Delphos, Findlay, Gibsonburg, Kalida, Leipsic, Lewis Center, Lima, Marion, Ottawa, Paulding, and Pemberville. We have Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) located at all of our branches with additional ITM only locations in Lima, Marion, and Paulding.

The Union Bank Company is a locally owned and operated subsidiary of United Bancshares, Inc. and is traded under the symbol of UBOH.

For more information, visit https://www.theubank.com/.

About Baker Hill

Baker Hill is the leading provider of lending technology for banks and credit unions across the United States. Each month, financial institutions use Baker Hill’s platform to process more than $7 billion in lending originations—helping them Lend Better, Lend Faster, and Lend More™ in their communities. Backed by Flexpoint Ford, a private equity firm, Baker Hill delivers the scale, security, and innovation required to meet the demands of modern banking. The company is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, with operations in Santa Barbara, California.

For more information, visit http://www.bakerhill.com.

About NACCE

NACCE is an organization of educators, administrators, presidents, and entrepreneurs focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their communities and colleges. Its mission is to provide leadership and sustainable, scalable resources to foster entrepreneurial thinking and action in one of the largest entrepreneurial ecosystems in North America. NACCE represents a dynamic community of technical and community colleges, serving more than 3.3 million students.

For more information, visit www.nacce.com.

About Northwest State Community College

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.