About Us

The NIACC Pappajohn Center was founded in 1997 through the generous support of Mr. John Pappajohn. The five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers are located at five different universities and colleges across Iowa and have helped create and launch over 1,000 companies. Iowa’s entrepreneurs can count on assistance and resources from the Pappajohn Center, whether the undertaking is a student enterprise, a new small business, a family business in need of a succession plan, an innovative technology start-up, or a corporate intrapreneurship project.

Iowa entrepreneurs are provided with a multitude of hands-on and easily accessible services each year, including:

• One-on-one business counseling
• Business start-up and expansion services
• Innovation and acceleration services
• Technical assistance
• Financial advice and access to capital
• Creating entrepreneurial communities and regions
• Entrepreneurial education for communities and students

At the NIACC Pappajohn Center & SBDC, we are dedicated to enriching lives in North Iowa and endeavor to:

• Empower Entrepreneurs Through Education – Equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge to succeed in their entrepreneurial journeys.
• Drive Business Growth and Resilience – Providing tailored guidance and resources to help businesses launch, grow, and adapt in an ever-changing global environment.
• Foster Collaborative Partnerships – Working with stakeholders to leverage resources, inspire innovation, and amplify impact.

The vision of the Pappajohn SBDC Center is to empower North Iowa’s entrepreneurs by providing tailored support, innovative resources, and transformative education. We envision a thriving and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem where students, small businesses, family enterprises, start-ups, and stakeholders flourish—driving growth, innovation, and economic success across the region.

The North Iowa Area Small Business Development Center has been serving the counties of North Iowa since 1985. We are one of 15 regional assistance centers in the Iowa SBDC network. Our office is located in the John Pappajohn Business and Entrepreneurial Center on the campus of North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. Our address, phone, and fax numbers are at the bottom of this page.

Owning a small business calls for vision, determination, and all the sound expertise you can find. The SBDC can guide you down the road to success with:

• One-on-one counseling by qualified professionals
• A variety of learning opportunities, including workshops, classes, online assistance, publications, and other resources
• Connections to other service providers, federal, state, and local resources, sources of capital,and similar assistance for small businesses

SBDCs are a program supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. SBA cannot endorse any products, opinions, or services of any external parties or activities.

Iowa’s SBDCs are partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration via a contract with Iowa State University, Ames. The State Center is headquartered in ISU’s new Gerdin Business Building, and the Iowa SBDC statewide program is hosted by Iowa State University’s College of Business.

Additional funding is provided by the State of Iowa. Support for regional centers is provided by SBDC host institutions and contributed funds. Our center’s host is North Iowa Area Community College.

What does this mean for our clients? It means that our business counseling services are federally funded and free of charge.