Chamber of Commerce -
Resource Listing
Chambers of commerce are voluntary associations of business individuals organized to promote the welfare of their town. The activities of the chambers of commerce vary widely. Some provide such fundamental services as tourist promotion, while others offer a full range of services to the business community and consumers. However, almost all chambers will furnish economic statistics on their communities and will help businesses locate sites for factories, stores and other establishments within their towns.
Educational Institution -
Resource Listing
Generally, educational institutuions offer three types of assistance to businesses: research, training and consulting. Because this business resource directory lists minimal-cost and no-cost services, the regular tuition-based courses have been omitted. The courses included are directed towards the needs of the entrepreneur. Some are management training courses; others emphasize a specific element of management, such as marketing or finance; and, some courses train potential employees. Many schools offer work-study programs in which students are placed in part-time jobs in local industry. These programs can be a source of low-cost, high-quality employees. In addition, faculty and graduate students of many universities do consulting work in their areas of study. Special projects for the small business may be done upon request. To find out if such assistance is available through an educational institution, and if there is a cost, call the appropriate department or business school.
Industrial Development Corp. -
Resource Listing
Industrial develpment corporations are private corporations established by local business communites. These corporations are not profit-seeking and instead, are organized to encourage existing industry to expand and new industry to locate in their towns. Typically the industrial development corporation issues stock bought by members of the business community. It may also borrow money from local financial institutions. This money can be lent directly to industries wishing to buy land and build factories or other facilities in the area, or may be used by the development corporation to buy land or build general purpose buildings for lease or resale. The interest rate charged by the development corporation is usually lower than the bank rate available to an individual company. Also, most development corporations offer assistance to businesses in locating building sites, and make local economic statistics available. Others may offer financial advice as well.
Public Agency -
Resource Listing
US Small Business Administration (SBA)
There are also some public agencies with resources to help entrepreneurs. The two largest are the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the US Department of Commerce. The SBA has an extremely braod range of services for the small business. This agency guarantees bank loans to businesses and provides some direct loans for construction and expansion of facilities, purchase of machinery and supplies and working capital. The SBA participates with banks in funding Local Development Companies (LDC's) projects. This money is in turn loaned to small businesses. The SBA offers procurement assistance, helping small businesses receive a share of government contracts for goods and services. The agency is authorized to guarantee leases that businesses would otherwise be unable to obtain, and to guaranteee surety bonds for small contractors. The SBA also may lend or guarantee the loans of private lending institutions to Small Business Investment Corporations (SBIC's), private companies that are licensed by the SBA to supply venture capital and long-term financing to small businesses. In addition, there are programs tailored to the needs of socially or economically disadvantaged persons under the SBA's Minority Enterprise Program. The SBA offers management cousulting, seminars and workshops for interested entrepreneurs. The SBA's extensive library of free and low cost publications can be found on their website at http://www.sba.gov under publications.
The management assistance offered by the SBA includes a broad range of programs. Through local chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and ACE (Active Corps of Executives) the SBA finds experienced couselors for the small business. Businesses facing problems will be referred to SBA management assistance couselors by other departments of the SBA, such as the loan section. Counseling is also provided under the Small Business Institute program involving college students working with local business professionals, under close supervision by faculty members.
The training programs offered by the SBA are extensive. In cooperation with local colleges and chambers of commerce, the SBA sponsors seminars and workshops on the various aspects of business management. The SBA also runs workshops for people interested in starting their own business and will provide follow-up seminars on specific problem areas.
US Department of Commerce
The US Department of Commerce district offices assist businesses to expand their foreign and domestic trade operations. The staffs of the district offices offer advice on foreign and domestic trade and maintain extensive libraries of relevant publications. They provide advice and information on marketing, including census data, marketing studies, information on new products, and general economic statistics. The Department of Commerce also publishes the Commerce Business Daily. This listing informs the business professional about what the US Government is interested in buying and selling.
State Department of Commerce
State Department of Commerce assist businesses in establishing or expanding in their particular state. This is accomplished through help in locating a business site, funding of construction, acquisition of employees and research. many pamphlets are available on business management and most departments are equipped with staff counselors to provide personal expertise for individual problems.
Office of Minority Business Enterprise
The Office of Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE), part of the Department of Commerce, funds organizations that assist socially or economically disadvantaged persons. The types of organizations eligible for funding include:
- Business Management Development (BMD) organizations offers business and technical assistance through local business development organizations.
- Business Resource Centers (BRC) are groups of business people seeking to mobilize the business community in support of local minority entrepreneurial development.
- Construction Contractors Assistance Center (CACC) offer management assistance to minority construction firms.
- Contracted Support Services (CSS) provide management and technical assistance to funded organizations and special projects.
- Experiment and Demonstration (E&D) organizations examine the feasibility of new programs within the field of minority enterprise.
- Local Business Development Organizations (LBDO) give business assistance to new or expanding businesses.
- Minority Business and Trade Associations (MB&TA) represent a trade or business association organized to enhance the competitive position of its members.
- The National Business Development Organization (NBDO) is a national group made up of LBDO's.
- Private Resource Program (PRP) is organized for the purpose of stimulating retail opportunities through national professional organizations.
- State OMBE are organized to mobilize state government resources to foster minority enterprise.
Trade Association -
Resource Listing
Trade associations are organizations whose members belong to a single trade or business. Generally, they can offer information oon opportunities within their field and management advice on the particular industry. Their services are usually for members only.
TO TOP OF PAGE
