New business services address local shortage of help for startups
| Wednesday, Aug 26 2009 05:37 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Aug 26 2009 05:38 PM
Take heart, budding entrepreneurs: Resources are still available locally for people hoping to start their own business.
Now, they may not be the same classes and counseling opportunities that existed in Bakersfield a year ago, and owners of existing businesses may still have an edge in terms of the menu of services.
But more help is available for startups now than there was at the start of this year -- and apparently, even more is on the away.
UC Merced's Small Business Development Center network, which took over helping Kern startups after the Kern Community College District stopped doing so late last year, has hired an interim director and now offers counseling and other services by appointment at 2000 K St., Suite 300.
Moreover, the center is hosting a visit Sept. 10 by a representative of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Appointments can be made by calling: 800-359-1833, option 6, or by calling 559-487-5791.
"As of now, the response has been great," said Ronald Truly, deputy district director of the SBA's Fresno office, adding that 10 of 14 half-hour slots were filled by Wednesday morning. The sessions will mainly deal with how to start a new business and how to apply for an SBA loan, he said.
The continuity of such services is seen as important to supporting economic growth. Although experts say new business financing has all but dried up, some state and national politicians are looking to small businesses to spur new employment.
"You're the job creator," Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, told scores of small business owners gathered for a conference he hosted in Bakersfield Tuesday.
The community college district continues to help existing businesses, and has hired a new director who will be given flexibility to help business owners as needs dictate, interim director Bob Hawkes said. The office is located at 2100 Chester Ave.
The regional director of UC Merced's SBDC network, Diane Howerton, said she hopes to expand staffing in Bakersfield from having someone there about once a week to opening the office full time.
"There is a strategy in place," she said.
"Certainly Bakersfield is a prime place to be. It's a very important market for us."
Other small business consulting resources are available for free locally through SCORE, a nonprofit association of volunteer business counselors (score.org).
Twice a week SCORE representatives come to the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce to provide one-on-one business consulting services, by appointment.
Chamber president and CEO Debbie Moreno said the service is popular, judging by the fact that the next three weeks of appointments are booked. She added that SCORE recently kicked off a monthly meeting, titled "How to start your own business," for groups of up to 12 people. Information is available by calling the chamber at: 327-4421.
