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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - SMALL BUSINESS CENTER (2)NEW BUSINESS DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: AGENDA REPORT City Manager Item to be presente March 24, 1992 Small Business Center, Update Report Community Development In the summer of 1990, efforts began toward the development of a small business development center program to serve the.Santa Clarita Valley. In April 1991, City Council approved a first year funding commitment of $63,413 from the Economic Development Division budget and approved an initial three-year commitment with funding for years two and three dependent on successful evaluation of previous years' programs. Subsequently, the. Newhall Land and Farming Company also contributed $100,000 toward the three-year operation of the Small Business Development program. �� Based on a Memorandum of Understanding, a Board of Directors for th�Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center was formed and held its first meeting May of 1991. The Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from the Santa Clarita City Council; the Newhall Land and Farming Company; -the College of the Canyons; the Castaic, Canyon Country, and Santa Clarita Valley" Chambers of Commerce; and members from the community at large. The concept of the Small Business Development Center program is to provide training, technical assistance, counseling referrals and other data and informational resources as a means to assist the small business community. To implement this program, the Board of Directors hired Margaret Kruglov:as its Director in September of 1991. RECOMMENDATION 1) To receive a brief oral presentation on the accomplishments of the Santa Clarita Small Business Development Center for its first six month's of operation; and 2) to recommend a new City Council appointment to the Small Business Development Center. MM:lkl:465 Agenda Item:_ Six Month Deport Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center March 1992 College of the Canyons, Gymnasium Building, Room 101 26455 North Rockwell Canyon Road Santa Clarita, California 91355 DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE' It has been six months since the Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center opened its doors to serving the community. It has been a challenging and exciting opportunity being anew enterprise. We started outwith nothing and embarked on awonderful trail on acquiring the necessities ( from paper clips to a computer system) to make the Center function efficiently. The next effort was getting ac- quainted with the business commu- nity and getting the visibility of the general public. Effortlessly a num- ber of community -minded individu- als started spreading the word around of the free services business owners can receive and they also arranged speaking engagements at various civic clubs and community organizations. Next we introduced our first Small Business Training Sessions.Three (3) part series of workshops in November 1991 followed by three (3) training sessions inJanuaty-February1992andfour (4) moreworkshops scheduled for March and April 1992. The services and technical assis- tance given by the center has been useful in the operations of many new and existing businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley. Finally we have developed a Brainstorming/Advisory Committee made up of community leaders with diverse business backgrounds, meet to develop and implement useful ideas that is beneficial to our community. Margaret Kruglov / Executive Director 2 The Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center is designed to provide management, technical assistance and training to small businesses. The Santa Clarita City Council approved funding in the amount of $100,000.00 for a three year program based on successful evaluation. Subsequently, The Newhall Land and Farming Company donated a matching $100,000.00 in funding creating a total budget of $200,000.00 for a three year operation. In May 1991 a newly established Board of Directors held its first meeting. The board of Directors is comprised of. College of The Canyons, The City of Santa Clarita, The Newhall Land and Farming Company, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Canyon Country Chamber of Commerce, The Castaic Chamber of Commerce. On September 1, 1991 the Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center opened its doors for operation in an office located at College of the Canyons under the leadership of its new Executive Director, Margaret Kruglov. 3 2. Develop state-of-the-art small business information resource center. 3. Develop a communication and outreach program to promote and market the Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center and its services. 4. Establish an evaluation program. 5. Establish a program to expand the financial base to a full-time operation. ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1. Adopted Small business Development Center Mission Statement and Strategy. 2. Develop and distribute 52 information packets. (How to start a business) 3.28 referrals: - To local professionals (insurance, legal, accounting, etc.). 4.4 training/workshop sessions. - Small Business Survival Strategies - 22 attendees - Marketing & Promoting Your Businesses Successfully - 20 attendees -)~inancing and Your Business - 2- attendees - Writing Your Own Business Plan - 20 attendees 5. Provided counseling and technical assistance to 30 local businesses. 6. Completed a needs assessment survey -162 responded. 7. CAL/OSHA need survey. 8. Small Business Innovation Survey. 4 9. Small Business Development Center developed brochure (distributed 2000). 10. Presentation and introduction to community - 22 meetings. 11. Formed Brainstorming /Advisory Committee Meetings (30 commu nity leaders). FUTURE PIANS 1. Develop a computerized resource file of all businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley with the various types of speciality. 2. Develop a computerized network link to the EdNet Database. 3. Continue to offer a series of workshops including the Business plan, Marketing Techniques, Finance and Cash flow management, Advertising, Time Management and Sales Training; also Daycare, Mail-order procedures, International Trade and Small Business Innovation Research. Scheduled for March -April 1992: A -Tax Planning for 1992 -1993. B - Effective Techniques for Marketing & Advertising Your Business C - Strategies for Competing with the Mall. D -The Essentials of Being Computer Friendly. 4. Co-sponsor breakfasts with area Chamber of Commerce at sites conveniently located. Fee-based topics will include business plan- ning, marketing techniques and financial issues. 5. Develop a plan to co-sponsor at least one conference for women in business during the next project year. 6. Co-sponsor at least two conferences for minority business people in cooperation with the minority business development center in Los Angeles. 7. Develop a newsletter for the Small Business Development Center clients. 8. Investigate an intern program where students from Cal -State Northridge can serve during their final year in college. 9. Investigate alternative funding sources (Federal, State, Depart- ment of Commerce, other foundations and major businesses in California). 10. Arrange a Trade Fair in the Santa Clarita Valley in cooperation with other entities.