 Marketing
The Westchester SBDC hosted a breakfast meeting to dialogue with the Mercy College President and 15 area employers, representing 6,000 employees, to discuss their current and future workforce needs. Dr. Louise Feroe, Mercy College President, used the occasion to announce the results of the recent SBDC workforce survey and to prompt area businesses to further the dialogue with education and resource providers concerning their needs. The event garnered good media interest and much positive campus interest in the SBDC. Eleven co-sponsor agencies and providers participated in the survey and development of a resource guide which was distributed at the meeting. This overall effort has positioned the SBDC very well as a lead agency and coordinator.
The director and advisors from the Mid-Hudson SBDC attended the SUNY Sullivan 3rd Annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference held at the college. One of the Mid-Hudson SBDC business advisors and the office manager were presenters at the conference which was attended by 60 participants. The Mid-Hudson SBDC also participated in a Business Showcase held within the conference with a display at a table donated by SUNY Sullivan.
A business advisor from the York SBDC attended the Economic Development Cluster meeting for the Brooklyn Black Convention. The sub-committee accepted the SBDC’s plan of action and proposal to develop and conduct entrepreneurial training workshops.
Program Development: Products and Services
The Director of the Corning SBDC developed a program for four female high school students. The students will spend half a day in the office learning about SBDC services, attend the Women Business Owners’ Roundtable and meet with retailers on Market Street in Corning to discuss the reality of starting a business.
The Corning SBDC developed a survey for the Women Business Owners’ Roundtable to determine how the women entrepreneurs are using technology in their business operations. The survey was e-mailed with a request to respond by e-mail. Results will be used to create an outline for a Roundtable program on “Women in Technology” scheduled for January 2007.
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Sponsors, Host Institutions, Partners and Alliances
The Canton SBDC director participated in a Chamber of Commerce committee meeting that included a discussion about how economic developers and educators can work together to improve the quality of the workforce. The committee consists of many SBDC stakeholders and agencies that were previously unaware of SBDC services. The committee believes the SBDC can be utilized to overcome many of the challenges that were identified. Participation in the committee will likely result in future clients and training events as well as new partnerships.
The Director of the Mid-Hudson SBDC attended a session of the Ulster County Legislature at the invitation of Chairman David Donaldson. The Director presented the economic results of the Mid-Hudson’s activities in the county and thanked the legislature for their support through SUNY Ulster.
Special Projects
The Brockport/Rochester Center was contacted by the SBA Disaster office to provide technical assistance to loan applicants who were victims of the October 2006 snowstorm which forced a federal disaster declaration in Erie, Niagara, Genesee and Orleans Counties. The center also was asked to participate in outreach efforts for the relief effort.
Professional Development & Staff Retention
The experienced York SBDC advisors train the new advisors and interns when they start working at the center. For example, new advisors are trained on topics such as preparing loan applications, working with Innovative Bank and Business Loan Express and SBA’s Community Express Loan Program, entering information in WebMQS, and conducting one-to-one counseling. |
Technology
In October 2006, the Research Network obtained hardware & software that can transform paper-based resources into digital PDF file versions. The new hardware (a multifunction copier that allows documents to be scanned and e-mailed) and software (which makes the scanned document a searchable PDF file) means that the information packets can be converted into digital PDFs, and then stored on folders on the Central SBDC’s servers. When an advisor requests an information packet, the librarian can transfer its contents from the network folder and place them on a dedicated area on the SBDC website. The advisor will have 14 days to download the file(s) before they are deleted. The advisor will be informed that the Research Network provides the information in compliance with current copyright law, and that the recipient will not use the downloaded information for personal gain. Obviously, this method has many benefits: it creates more space in the library, it saves on shipping costs, and shortens the time wherein a client will receive his/her requested information.
The Brockport/Rochester Center has opened an outreach center at the Lennox Technology Center (LTC) operated by Hi-Tech of Rochester (HTR). The LTC is a business incubator focused on the technology community. The SBDC was invited to provide services to tenants as well as to those who are not looking for incubator services. The center director also is involved in the area’s annual technology business plan contest sponsored by HTR. The center reviews plan submissions and makes recommendations for finalists and also participates in critiquing/coaching of finalists. The Center participates in a 9 county wide organization known as WIRED which has received a $15 million grant from the US DOL to develop and promote technology programs/businesses and related jobs over the next 3 years.
The Westchester SBDC used Survey Monkey.com as a reporting mechanism for a recent business needs survey. This has provided a very cost effective ($19.95/month) mechanism for data input and basic reporting of results, freeing staff time for more effective feedback and interaction with respondents.
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SPD Gazette