Pictured left to right: Lisa Shimkat, America’s SBDC Iowa State Director; Sandy Ehrig, 2019 SBDC Champion Award recipient;
Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa; Adam Gregg, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa

AMES, Iowa – America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa has chosen Sandy Ehrig as the recipient of the 2019 SBDC Champion Award. This honor was created to recognize business partners or individuals who go above and beyond to support small businesses in Iowa.

The award was presented to Ehrig on April 11 at the Iowa Rural Development Summit, which was held in Grinnell. At the presentation, Lisa Shimkat, State Director of America’s SBDC Iowa said, “Highlighting America’s SBDC Iowa’s Champion allows us to shine a spotlight on those who work tirelessly to ensure businesses in Iowa have the resources and services they need to make a positive impact on our economy. Sandy gives of herself over and over with an unmatched focus on moving the needle for rural Iowa. She shows the world her amazing strength of character, her tireless resolve to find solutions, and her ability to move mountains.”

Ehrig is the Co-Chair of the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative as well as Chair of the Rural Development Council. She also serves on the America’s SBDC Iowa State Advisory Board as the 2019 Vice Chair.

America’s SBDC Iowa is an outreach program of Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business and the Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, Hotline 515-294-1222, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, America’s SBDC Iowa has 15 regional assistance centers located strategically across the state. Since program inception in 1981, the SBDC has helped Iowa businesses and entrepreneurs through no fee, confidential, customized, professional business counseling and practical, affordable training workshops.

For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services, call (515) 294-2030 or visit www.iowasbdc.org or www.facebook.com/AmericasSBDCIowa.

Press Contacts:
Stacy Dreyer, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-5595, sdreyer@iastate.edu
Lisa Shimkat, America’s SBDC Iowa, 515-294-2030, lshimkat@iastate.edu