A new position jointly funded by the NDSU Research and Technology Park and the North Dakota Small Business Development Center has been established to provide additional support to small business and entrepreneurs in the region.
Ian Carlstrom has been named the new North Dakota Small Business Development Center business adviser for the southeastern section of the state. Carlstrom has extensive experience advising small businesses as a consultant, and worked closely with the Minnesota Small Business Development Center while employed by the Entrepreneur Fund in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and Master of Business Administration from NDSU.
The position will be co-located with the North Dakota Small Business Development Center in the NDSU Technology Incubator. The NDSU Research and Technology Park, through a partnership with lenders and resource providers, will provide funding, leadership and administrative oversight, to serve the region, which covers the Fargo, Jamestown, Valley City, Wahpeton and Lisbon areas.
“We are excited to welcome Ian to our team,” said ND SBDC Fargo Center director Paul Smith. “With his experience, energy and passion for working with entrepreneurs and small business owners, Ian will enhance our capacity to provide services to clients and will be a valuable resource for lenders, stakeholders and partners in the region.”
Brian Kalk, Research and Technology Park executive director, said, “We are pleased to partner with the ND SBDC program to provide essential assistance to small businesses throughout the region and state.”
Each year, the North Dakota Small Business Development Center assists more than 1,000 North Dakota entrepreneurs and small business owners statewide to start, manage and grow their businesses by providing free, confidential business advising and technical assistance in a wide range of areas.
The NDSU Research and Technology Park is dedicated to enhancing the investments in NDSU by the citizens of North Dakota. Through partnerships with international, national, and regional centers of excellence, as well as high technology-based businesses and the research community at NDSU, the park helps develop technology-based businesses and broaden the economic base of North Dakota.
As a student-focused, land grant, research university, we serve our citizens.