Starting this fall, Jefferson County entrepreneurs and small business owners have a new resource right in their own backyard. Central Oregon Community College's Small Business Development Center has expanded its regional outreach to include regular in-person advising hours in Madras — part of a broader push that also added sessions in Redmond, Prineville, and Sisters.

The Madras sessions run every Monday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the COCC Madras campus, making this the first time Jefferson County residents have had consistent, recurring access to SBDC advisors without driving to Bend.

What the SBDC Offers

COCC's Small Business Development Center provides no-cost, confidential business advising to entrepreneurs at any stage — from people turning an idea over in their heads to established owners navigating financing, growth, or a rough stretch. Advisors can help with:

  • Business plan development and feasibility analysis
  • Loan readiness and access to financing
  • Marketing strategy and customer acquisition
  • Government contracting opportunities
  • HR, operations, and day-to-day management guidance

Services are free. Sessions are confidential. There is no sales pitch.

A Growing Campus

The new advising hours build on a strong year for the COCC Madras campus overall. In spring 2026, the campus opened a new 2 million, 24,000-square-foot facility that expanded classroom space for medical assistant and nursing programs — two fields in high demand given Jefferson County's healthcare workforce needs.

COCC President Greg Pereira has described the college's regional expansion as a direct response to where students and working adults actually live. "We want to meet people where they are," Pereira said earlier this year.

How to Connect

To schedule an appointment with an SBDC advisor at the Madras campus, visit cocc.edu/sbdc or call the COCC SBDC main office. Walk-in availability during Monday afternoon hours may be possible depending on advisor schedules, but an advance appointment is recommended to ensure a dedicated session.

The SBDC expansion comes at a moment when many Central Oregon small businesses are navigating a challenging economic climate — with construction costs, labor shortages, and tighter lending conditions all putting pressure on local operators. Having an experienced advisor within reach on a weekly basis is a resource Jefferson County businesses have not previously had.