CROWN POINT | Northwest Indiana's Small Business Development Center, which has been providing services for 20 years, recently redeveloped its programs and moved to a new home.

Purdue University Calumet has became the host of the group, which is a resource for existing small business owners and for those considering to start a business. The SBDC now is located at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive, here and also has a satellite office in Michigan City with business advisers available at both locations.

A celebration of the Crown Point location is planned at an invitation-only program Thursday at Avalon Manor Banquet Center in Hobart. The SBDC is a funded partnership between the U.S Small Business Administration, Indiana Economic Development Corp. and Purdue.

The program offers a range of services, such as free one-on-one confidential consulting with a personal advisor, on-hand reference materials, comprehensive training opportunities and software programs (designed for business plans, financial diagnostic and strategic analysis) at a minimal cost, informative business seminars and workshops, according to a press release.

Courses and seminars are instructed by leaders from higher education, government, professional associations and include topics that teach basic and advanced business skills.

"Our focus is to have a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of small businesses and develop strong entrepreneurial communities in the Northwest Indiana region," said Joshua Lybolt, SBDC regional director.

The new SBDC team is made up of six business advisers with combined professional and educational background in Business Management, Marketing, Economics, Finance and earned MBA degrees: Joshua Lybolt, LeAnn McCrum, Todd Dickard, Garry Bradley, Cindy Bertram and Jacquie Spearman. The staff also includes Administrative Assistant Maggie Havens, two interns and one student worker from Purdue University Calumet.

For more information, visit www.nwisbdc.org or call (219) 644-3513.