Bradford Financial offers development opportunity for entrepreneurs

Bradford Financial Center is one of the largest independent financial firms in the Midwest, doing business across the country. The company, under president Jim Tausz, has been in Wright County for 46 years, 45 of them in Clarion. Tausz has been called a “financial wizard” by the Des Moines Register and Bradford has been featured in Forbes twice. Because of their success, they’ve been able to give back to the community through grant money, investing, and helping develop local business. Now, they’ve come up with a new way to help grow business by offering entrepreneurs a location and funds for them to get started.

Bradford’s Business Development Center will provide new businesses with a small office space, paid utilities, and use of Bradford’s reception area, conference rooms, professional help with management, and other services. Businesses will not, however, be simply renting an office. Payments will be decided on an individual basis depending on the company’s abilities and resources.

“I have no hard dollar at all,” Tausz said. “Everybody’s situation is different.”

Tausz said that the idea to offer a hand to entrepreneurs had been growing for the last six years or so, but timing seemed right to start the program. “It’s just to get people a way to start—and hopefully keep them here,” he said.

For the full story, see the November 12 edition of the Monitor.