Del Mar College Small Business Newsletter

Transcription

1 Jul - Sep 2004 Del Mar College Small Business Newsletter 101 Baldwin, VB-351 Corpus Christi, TX (361) SBDC Services and Programs The Small Business Development Center serves to promote the growth, innovation, productivity, profitability and improved management of businesses by providing the following services: develop business plans, package loan requests, prepare strategic marketing plans, analyze and improve accounting practices, provide licensing and permit information, provide business seminars and access to the government procurement system. Our website has a startup guide which lists the local, state and federal requirements on starting a business, an accurate schedule of events with the ability to register online, success stories, procurement related topics, frequently asked questions (FAQ) section and a links section which includes various federal, state and local agencies that benefit the small business community. We also have a contact section which lists all of our staff, phone numbers, , etc. Our website address is The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will conduct an on-going series of seminars on SBA s programs & services, every Friday of each month, for startup or existing small businesses. Seminars will start at 9:00 am at the SBA Office, 3649 Leopard Street, Suite 411, Corpus Christi, TX. 1 st Friday SBA Loan Eligibility & Technical Support for Small Businesses 2 nd Friday SBA Community Express Loans Small Loans for Small Businesses 3 rd Friday SBA LowDoc Loans Small Business Loans up to $150,000 4 th Friday SBA 504 Loans Fixed Rate, Long Term Financing for Fixed Assets ~ Seating is limited & seminars are subject to change ~ ~Please call Robert Martinez at , Ext. 10 for reservations~ Did you know that Small Businesses Small Business Statistics Provide approximately 75 percent of the net new jobs added to the economy. Represent 99.7 percent of all employers. Employ 50.1 percent of the private work force. Provide 40.9 percent of private sales in the country. Account for 39.1 percent of jobs in high technology sectors in Account for 52 percent of private sector output in For more information about the Small Business Administration, please visit A Partnership Program of the US Small Business Administration CENTER STAFF Larry Ellis Lisa Farr Training Coordinator Ann Fierova Director Inside this Issue: SBDC Services & Programs SBA Information. 1 Success Stories.. 2 PTAC Services... 3 Training Schedule Molly Long MicroLoan Program Manager Mike North Nathan Offermann Margie Silguero Associate Contracting Assistance Specialist Sean P. Smith Procurement Program Manager Elizabeth Soliz Hector Vidaurri Procurement Specialist Zuzana Zambrano Procurement Assistant

2 Success Stories Yu Mi s Convenience Store - David and Mi Cha Sullivan came to the Del Mar College SBDC for assistance with opening a new convenience store in Alice, Texas. The owners have been planning to open a convenience store for the past five years. Both owners were well qualified to pursue this project. Mi Cha Sullivan has four years of experience in the convenience store business and numerous college courses in business administration. David Sullivan has a master s degree in Public Administration and has been responsible for budgets and planning in the past. The owners met with their counselor, Larry Ellis, who assisted them in preparing a detailed business plan with financial projections. The owners began their search for a store location in Finally, an ideal location for the business was found at 1106 North Texas Blvd. in Alice. The property had been a convenience store in the past and most of the equipment was still operational. Ribbon Cutting at Yu Mi s Convenience Store in Alice, TX David Sullivan worked with Larry Ellis to put together a loan package to request financing of the project with a SBA 7 (a) loan. The loan package was submitted to three banks and was finally approved by 1st Community Bank in Alice. The owners have faced many challenges in the pursuit of their dream of owning a convenience store. There were hidden costs and equipment repairs to overcome. The owners were forced to be patient while they worked through the SBA requirements including background checks, environmental inspections, and disability issues. In the end, it took a lot of hard work and elbow grease to clean up the building and prepare it for the Grand Opening. The Grand Opening and ribbon cutting was held on October 9th, David Sullivan stated that the learning curve to open the business was high and is still continuing. His advice is to get organized and don t be discouraged if things take longer than you think. Mike Smith from the Alice Chamber of Commerce says that this new convenience store is greatly needed in this part of Alice. The new Yu Mi s Convenience Store is a testament to hard work, persistence, and a relentless entrepreneurial desire to be a business owner. Taqueria Valle Hermoso - Blanca Torres always dreamed of owning her own restaurant. A native of Valle Hermoso, Mexico, she moved to Corpus Christi in 1992, married, and started a family. Only twenty-nine years old, hard-working, and bright, she began waiting in local Mexican food taquerias. With a dream always in mind, she worked eagerly to gain experience she would one day use in her own business. After 3 years at Lila's Mexican Food in Calallen, Blanca's dream would come closer. The owner of the restaurant and others in the Corpus Christi area, decided to sell this particular location. She offered Blanca the opportunity to take it over. With only limited personal funds to invest, Blanca assumed the existing operation. All employees of Lila's Mexican Food Restaurant decided they would stay with the business under new management and ownership. Just months after taking over, Blanca realized the need for a small loan to help meet monthly bills and keep steady cash flow. She came in contact with a local Robstown Area Development Commission member, whom frequented her restaurant and was referred to SBDC for assistance. Elizabeth Soliz provided a business plan and loan assistance. After reviewing all loan options, Ms. Torres decided that she wanted to try for a micro loan under the Innovative Bank Small Office Home Office (SOHO) program. Elizabeth provided loan assistance and a loan was approved in January Blanca came to the U.S. with a dream that quickly became a reality. Blanca states "I always dreamed one day I would own my own restaurant. Now that dream has been realized and I am very content and satisfied with the success of my business so far." She renamed the business after her hometown in Mexico. Taqueria Valle Hermoso is recognized as one of the best Mexican Food Restaurants in the area for its traditional, fine and specialty breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. Blanca resides in Corpus Christi with her husband, Carlos Torres, who also owns his own painting service business, and her son Carlos Torres Jr., 9 and daughter, Blanca Torres, 5.

3 Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) 101 Baldwin, VB-351 Corpus Christi, TX (361) PTAC Services The Procurement Technical Assistance Center serves the counties of Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Goliad, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Victoria. The PTAC is partially funded by the Department of Defense and is designed to increase the number and type of businesses selling products and services to government agencies. The PTAC can help any business interested in doing federal, state or local contracting through the following services: counseling on procurement matters Access to bid packages, plans and specifications Electronic bid match service Interpretation of bid documents Access to Dodge Reports for South Texas Assist with government database registration Provide research for bid opportunities. Networking opportunities with government agencies Seminars/workshops on a wide variety of procurement topics Access to military plans and specifications Access to federal acquisition regulations Technical support putting together procurement certifications If you are an existing business interested in further information, please contact Margie Silguero at (361) STATUTORY SMALL BUSINESS PROCUREMENT GOALS FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES The federal government purchases billions of dollars in goods and services each year that range from paperclips to complex space vehicles. To ensure that small businesses get their fair share, statutory goals have been established for Federal executive agencies. They are: - 23 percent of prime contracts for small businesses; - 5 percent of prime and subcontracts for small disadvantaged businesses; - 5 percent of prime and subcontracts for women-owned small businesses; - 3 percent of prime contracts for HUBZone small businesses; - 3 percent of prime and subcontracts for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. In addition to the goals established, the Small Business Act 15(g)(1) also states that it is the policy of the United States, that each agency shall have an annual goal that represents, for that agency, the maximum practicable opportunity for small business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled by service disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone small business concerns, small business concerns owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and small business concerns owned and controlled by women to participate in the performance of contracts let by that agency. If you think your business cannot obtain government contracts, think again. The Procurement Technical Assistance Center has assisted numerous existing businesses in procuring government contracts. This last quarter, the PTAC was very successful in helping their clients, who were awarded 35 contracts, which totaled $2, If interested in seeing what your business can sell, please contact Margie Silguero at or Hector Vidaurri at

4 Small Business Seminars for July 1, September 30, 2004 Seminars are subject to change, please call Lisa Farr at (361) in advance or register online at DATE SEMINAR TITLE TIME LOCATION COST 07/14/04 New Taxpayer s Seminar 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 07/15/04 Small Business Administration 07/21/04 MicroLoan Program and Loans Under $35K TBA How to do Business with CCISD 07/22/04 Starting Your Business: Step by Step 08/04/04 Keeping the Books 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 08/11/04 How to Start a Home Based Business 08/18/04 Starting Your Business Step by Step 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Jim Wells County, Coastal Bend College, 704 Coyote Trail, Room /19/04 Small Business Administration 08/25/04 MicroLoan Program and Loans Under $35K The Del Mar College s Small Business Development Center is partially funded under Cooperative Agreement No Z DMC by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of any of the cosponsors or participants opinions, findings, conclusions, recommendations, products or services. All SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and open to the public. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Lisa Farr at Del Mar College, 101 Baldwin, VB-351, Corpus Christi, TX 78404; (361)

5 Small Business Seminars for July 1, September 30, 2004 Seminars are subject to change, please call Lisa Farr at (361) in advance or register online at DATE SEMINAR TITLE TIME LOCATION COST 09/08/04 What Quality Customer Service Means to Your Small Business 09/09/04 Introduction to QuickBooks Pro :30 pm - 4:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters Business Bldg. Room TBA TBA Doing Business with Mexico 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 09/14/04 Small Business Tax Workshop 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters $ /16/04 Up-to-Date Personnel Policies for Small Businesses 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 09/16/04 Employment Issues for Small Businesses 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters Business bldg. Room /16/04 Small Business Administration Business bldg. Room /21/04 Starting Your Business, Step by Step 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Brooks County, Ed Rachal Memorial Library, 203 S. Henry, Falfurrias, TX 09/23/04 Women in Business 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters $ /28/04 Employer Tax Workshop 8:30 am - 11:30 am Del Mar College, Venters TBA DBE/HUB Programs and How to do Business with RTA and TxDOT The Del Mar College s Small Business Development Center is partially funded under Cooperative Agreement No Z DMC by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of any of the cosponsors or participants opinions, findings, conclusions, recommendations, products or services. All SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and open to the public. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Lisa Farr at Del Mar College, 101 Baldwin, VB-351, Corpus Christi, TX 78404; (361)