In late December 2020, The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced that Bolinger Solutions of Creston achieved all required steps to be granted Targeted Small Business status in the state of Iowa. The Targeted Small Business program is designed to help minority-owned businesses grow both through low-interest loan opportunities and opportunities to contract with the State of Iowa and all three Regents Universities.
In late January America’s SBDC Iowa announced that Bolinger Solutions of Creston was the recipient of the organization’s statewide January Small Business of the Month Award.
Bolinger Solutions is proud to be 100% minority owned. The firm is owned by Dr. Jesse Bolinger, who is legally blind, and his wife Chasity.
In 2013, Bolinger recognized the potential of home-based call center workers and began work as an independent contractor for a firm providing these services. One year later, he began to see a need for competitively priced consulting services for nonprofit organizations and small businesses.
As Bolinger began to explore and provide consulting services and continue to provide home-based call center services, the potential for the provision of coaching services to individuals and businesses evolved. In 2015, Bolinger developed a system that would allow for the provision of all three services and Bolinger Solutions, Inc. was born.
As the Bolinger’s worked to grow their business, they learned about grant funding available from Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation and the Iowa Department for the Blind. This fund could be utilized for the purchase of equipment and services to aid in business development.
“Ethan Pitt, former Director of South-Central Iowa Small Business Development Center was instrumental in helping me develop a very comprehensive business plan, which completed my application,” said Bolinger.
Bolinger prides himself on writing and conceptualizing large-scale projects, but he needed some additional assistance from an outside, neutral party. With the help of Pitt and receiving vocational rehabilitation, his application was approved.
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.
For more information on Bolinger Solutions visit bolingersolutions.com.
For more information on America’s SBDC Iowa programs or services call 515-294-2030 or visit iowasbdc.org.