DeKalb residents Norman and Julia Busch knew they needed help when they decided to start a business.

That’s why they attended the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce “Issues and Answers” event Monday afternoon at the National Bank and Trust Co. board room, 155 N. Third St.

“We’ve had a business in town in the past,” Norman said. “We’re not going to make the same mistakes we made before.”

The couple said they hope to open a balloon business in the DeKalb area, where they will sell decorative balloons and balloon bouquets.

The event answered many of their questions, including those about financial issues that frustrated them the first time.

“It was very helpful. If we need to get a loan, we know what we need to do to get one,” Julia said.

The Buschs and other entrepreneurs learned they could take advantage of loan programs at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and even the United States Department of Agriculture.

Cory Jobe, program director of economic development for the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office, said several of the state loan programs work closely with each other. Almost any type of business can receive some kind of financial incentive from one or more programs.

Each of the representatives said the most important thing a prospective business owner or an owner considering expansion can do is to create a comprehensive business plan before asking a bank for a loan.

“A lot of the time people think, ‘I’ll go to the bank and borrow the money.’ The bank may not want to hand out the money without [a good business plan],” said Jack Weatherford, a representative for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Also discussed at the workshop was a plan to revitalize downtown DeKalb using financial incentives that make the area attractive to prospective business owners.

Jennifer Groce, executive director of Main Street DeKalb, said the city offers grants and services to business owners to help them preserve and improve their downtown properties.

“What we want to do is preserve your building at a very low cost,” Groce said. “There are lots of ways we can work with you. We offer a 50/50, dollar-for-dollar match-up to $25,000 to fix up [a building].”

The program also helps businesses design their exterior as well as make minor improvements up to $1,000 at no cost to the owner.

The Main Street DeKalb program is part of the Illinois Main Street program that serves 58 communities in Illinois, said Wendy Bell, program coordinator for Illinois Main Street.