Jefferson County entrepreneurs and small business owners have a new resource close to home. Central Oregon Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) expanded its regional footprint in September, establishing recurring in-person advising hours in Madras — along with Redmond, Prineville, and Sisters — to make professional business support more accessible throughout Central Oregon.
For Madras-area residents, it means free, expert business advising is now available locally, without a lengthy drive to Bend. The expansion coincides with a strong period of investment in COCC’s local presence following the January 2026 opening of the college’s new 24,000-square-foot Madras campus learning center.
What the SBDC Offers
The COCC Small Business Development Center provides free, confidential, one-on-one advising to entrepreneurs at any stage — from those exploring a first business idea to established owners navigating growth, transition, or a financial challenge. Services include help with:
- Business planning and feasibility analysis
- Financial projections and loan readiness
- Marketing strategy and customer development
- Accessing capital and navigating financing options
- Business transitions and succession planning
SBDC advisors are experienced professionals with real-world business and finance backgrounds. The service is available at no cost — a combination of quality and accessibility that can be genuinely hard to find in a rural county.
A Good Fit for Jefferson County
Jefferson County’s economy is shaped by agriculture, trades, small retail, and service businesses. Many local entrepreneurs operate without access to professional advisors or a deep business network — a gap that regular SBDC hours in Madras can meaningfully help to fill.
The new Madras campus, opened in January, has already expanded workforce training and academic program availability for Jefferson County residents. Adding SBDC advising to its portfolio deepens the campus’s role as a community economic development hub and broadens its value to residents who aren’t enrolled students.
To schedule a free advising appointment in Madras, visit cocc.edu/sbdc or contact the COCC Madras Campus. Appointments are available on a recurring schedule and tailored to the specific needs of each entrepreneur or business owner.