Small Business Access to Capital and Educational Services

Transcription

1 THIRD EDITION Small Business Access to Capital and Educational Services Resource Directory for all small business entrepreneurs in the 14 western New York counties Originally sponsored by: Buffalo Branch Federal Reserve Bank of New York in partnership with a Women s Access to Capital Buffalo and Rochester Initiative

2 Introduction Small businesses, especially those owned by women, are changing the face of America s economy. According to the National Foundation for Women Business Owners as of 1999, there were 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., employing over 27.5 million people and generating over $3.6 trillion in sales. The earning power of these businesses is growing at astonishing rates; in fact, over the last decade women-owned businesses showed nearly a 250 percent growth in revenues. We have much at stake and much to gain from identifying and implementing effective strategies to invest in women-owned businesses, and providing an infrastructure that will encourage their continued growth and development. Due to an overwhelming demand this is the second edition of a directory that evolved from a series of workshops sponsored by the National Women s Business Council and its public sector partners, the Federal Reserve Bank System, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. These workshops provided an opportunity for experts to share their experiences as lenders, investors, regulators, policy makers and women business owners. These participants were able to collaborate on efforts to identify new solutions that will increase women business owners access to capital and credit. This directory is a direct result of these deliberations, bringing together resources, financial and educational, in the 14-county Buffalo/Rochester area that are available to women-owned businesses. With the assistance of the Small Business Development Center at Buffalo State College, this directory is available on line at the following two locations. Organization of Directory This directory contains a comprehensive list of resources for the small business entrepreneur in the Western New York area. This area is defined by the fourteen counties of: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates. Resources are divided into the categories listed in the Table of Contents; however, many of these organizations could have been listed in more than one category. It is important that the user considers this when searching for information. Also, there are two indices; a name index and a geographic index, to aid in locating entries. The user should consider the geographic index as an outline, as many organizations have branches in multiple counties. Contact organizations for more information on their branch locations. i

3 Table of Contents I. Educational Resources Technical Assistance Business Consulting Chambers of Commerce Libraries Professional Associations Websites Publications/Guides II. Lending Resources Traditional Lenders Non-traditional Lenders III. Index Venture Capital Sources Government Agencies Industrial Development Agencies Development Corporations Other Lenders p. 1 p. 43 p. 49 p. 55 p. 67 p. 75 p. 83 p. 105 p. 115 p. 155 p. 181 p. 211 ii

4 1. Surround yourself with good people, a company s most important asset. 10. Build a balance in your business and personal life. 2. Create a plan for future success; understand your business and its niche in the marketplace. 10 Tips for Small Business Success 9. Know your present and future financing requirements. 3. Get advice from experts in economic, tax, accounting, legal and contractual matters. 8. Build strong relationships with your professional partners even if you do not have an immediate need for their expertise. 4. Be realistic in your projections 7. Ask yourself: How can I do what I do better? 5. Make monthly cash projections and pay them close attention. 6. Understand your own and your key employees specific managerial and personal strengths and weaknesses. iii

5 Business Consulting The number of women-owned businesses increased 89% over the last decade to an estimated 8.5 million. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy 1

6 BUSINESS CONSULTING 84 Schuyler St. Belmont, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) Accord Corporation Services: The Accord Corporation is a private, not-for-profit community action agency and rural housing preservation company. ACCORD Corporation has seven divisions that offer comprehensive social services and business development services to a four county region in rural New York. The Economic Development Division administers the Friendship Empire Zone providing technical assistance and tax information on zone credits and zone benefits aimed at increasing economic growth in Zone communities. The Business and Community Development Division maintains an Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP) Center that is certified by Empire State Development Corporation. The Center provides business training to entrepreneurs who want to begin a small business and small business owners who are economically struggling or who want to expand their business. Services include personal and classroom business start-up, expansion, and retention training is available. Select business seminars and business application computer classes are offered. The business curriculum is approved by the State University of New York (SUNY) and includes how to write a defensible business plan and construct financial statements. Among the seminars offered are business taxes, e-commerce, and legal issues. Eligible recipients are women, minorities, income-eligible individuals, and disabled and displaced workers throughout Allegany, Cattaraugus, Steuben and Wyoming counties. 2

7 BUSINESS CONSULTING 275 Oak St., Suite 220 Buffalo NY Phone (716) Fax - (716) Buffalo & Erie County Workforce Development Consortium The Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Development Consortium (WDC), Inc., administers employment and training programs. Services: Services for Job Seekers: these include operation of one stop employment and training centers, vocational assessment, testing, career counseling, mentoring, basic educational services, pre-employment/job readiness skills training. Services for Employers: the WDC is involved in various activities designed to increase the productivity of local businesses. It seeks to increase the involvement of the business community in planning, development and implementation of employment and training programs designed to create new employment opportunities in the private sector. These activities serve the purpose of improving the economic climate in the region. Welfare-to-Work a nationwide effort designed to encourage and assist private sector business with hiring people on public assistance. Workforce Development Consortium ( In addition to the services shown above, the website lists information about the Workforce Development Consortium (WCD), the Workforce Development System, the Workforce Investment Act, One-Stop Partners, and the Workforce Investment Board. Employment and Training Center locations: Buffalo Employment & Training Center Erie County Employment & Training 77 Goodell St. Center, Abbott Commerce Park Buffalo, NY Abbott Road, Orchard Park, NY Cheektowaga Employment & Training Center Tonawanda Employment & Training Center 275 Alexander Street 1835 Sheridan Drive Cheektowaga, NY Tonawanda, NY

8 BUSINESS CONSULTING 671 Main St. Buffalo, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Buffalo Place Inc. Services: Buffalo Place Inc., together with its affiliate Buffalo Place Foundation, is an independent not-for-profit corporation founded to manage the downtown core surrounding Buffalo s pedestrian mall. Its primary focus has been on maintenance and promotion, as well as parking, retail, and office development, although the organization has been involved in a wide variety of other activities downtown. This organization is dedicated to improving the economic health and quality of life in the downtown business district. Buffalo Place provides marketing services, such as the Business Retention Program. This program aims to strengthen the presence of existing office tenants, retailers, restaurants, and property owners. Buffalo Place also provides communication projects, including publications, coupon programs and public relations, and conducts market research for ongoing information collection and demographic analysis. Buffalo Place produces: Thursday at the Square, Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor, the Downtown Country Market, Annual Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting and a 15-week free-to-the-public ice skating program at Rotary Rink. 4

9 BUSINESS CONSULTING 2001 Main St., Lyons Hall Buffalo, NY Phone - (716) Fax - (716) Canisius College - Center for Entrepreneurship The Center for Entrepreneurship dedicates itself to assisting owners, CEOs of entrepreneurial companies and key managers with business planning, perpetuation, and effective management practices. The Center acts as a bridge between academia and the entrepreneurial business community, connecting the business knowledge of the College faculty with the practical insights of successful entrepreneurs and service providers. Workshops, one-day seminars and full semester courses are offered, providing new skills. Urban Entrepreneurial Training Program The goals of this training program are to provide participants with the knowledge needed to succeed in the urban community and increase their ability to compete in the growing, local, regional and global economy. Continuing Education Programs Project Management training class Franchising class E-commerce for any business conference Workshops on increasing sales by leveraging customer data Customer satisfaction classes Workshops on ADA and Workers Compensation Evaluation of a privately-held business 5

10 BUSINESS CONSULTING 300 Corporate Parkway Amherst, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Canisius College Center for Professional Development Programs: The Center for Professional Development was established over 20 years ago to meet the current and anticipated training and organizational needs of business professionals. Customized Training Training programs range from the graduate-level certificate program to leadership development to half-day programs. Topics include: team training, finance, computers, marketing, accounting, motivation, effective writing skills, and communication. Training is provided at the company s location or at Canisius Center conference facility in Amherst. Continuing Education Certificate programs include Fundamentals of Fundraising, International Business, Parish Business Administration, and Fundamentals of Public Relations. Continuing education courses include New York State-mandated continuing education for insurance professionals. Continuing Professional Education seminars are offered for CPAs on an on-going basis. Renting of Training Facilities Training facility is available at 300 Corporate Parkway in Amherst. Call for more information. 6

11 BUSINESS CONSULTING 108 Jacobs Management Center University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Services: This center at the University at Buffalo functions to create an environment that strengthens current entrepreneurial endeavors, to mutually benefit the University and the Western New York community, and to build a dynamic partnership between the business and the academic community. The center assists start-up and emerging businesses as well as existing and family businesses. The Core Program Emerging Entrepreneur Program Lessons in Leadership Buying and Selling a Business Valuation of Businesses Business Plan Development Workshop Family Business Center Strategic Planning City Hall, Room 105A 30 Church St. Rochester, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) City of Rochester Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program The City of Rochester s Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program is set up to assist and expedite certified minority and women-owned businesses in getting local government contracts. The city government sets goals for public works projects and the program matches minority and women-owned firms to projects in order to meet the goals. 7

12 BUSINESS CONSULTING 70 Harvard Pl. Buffalo, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. is a non-profit agency that provides a variety of social services to low-income communities Route 20A Perry, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) Community Action for Wyoming County Community Action is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to improve the quality of life in Wyoming County. The goals of Community Action are to: Encourage the development of individuals and families Seek government and private resources for assistance Coordinate and cooperate with private and government agencies to maximize funding Promote and encourage economic development Employment & Training Opportunities This program contains a variety of services to assist Wyoming County residents in seeking employment and employers in seeking employees. Services provided include workshops, computer lab and resource room, job referrals, internships, and employer tax credit information. 8

13 BUSINESS CONSULTING Cornell Cooperative Extension Services: Programs: Cornell University, in conjunction with several other entities, has created an institution to help communities in various ways. There are local branches in every county and there are many different programs available. The Cornell Cooperative Extension System enables people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work. Its strengths traditionally have been in agriculture and food system subject matter, but also it is a resource in land use, tourism, economic and community development, nutrition and many other subjects. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides various business and economic programs, such as Business Retention and Expansion, Community & Rural Development Institute (CaRDI), Farm Financial and Business Analysis. However, these programs vary in availability, county to county. Business Retention and Expansion Tests and does production runs on small batches of new or ethnic foods that a local entrepreneur may wish to market. Community and Resource Development Institute (CaRDI) Provides workshops on the interrelationship between land use, economic development, environmental conflict, service provisions and local politics. Also, conducts collaborative research in economic development, environmental management, human services, and institutional leadership. Farm and Horticulture Financial and Business Analysis Provides information on agricultural and horticulture business competitiveness and profitability, summary data collection, start-up and enterprise analysis information. Also provides FarmNet, which is farm business counseling. Allegany County Extension Ontario County Extension 535A County Rd North Main St. Belmont, NY Canandaigua, NY Phone (585) Phone (585) Fax (585) Fax (585) Cattaraugus County Extension Orleans County Extension 28 Parkside Dr., Suite A 20 South Main St., P.O. Box 150 Ellicottville, NY Albion, NY Phone (716) Phone (585) Fax (716) Fax (585)

14 BUSINESS CONSULTING Chautauqua County Extension Steuben County Extension 3542 Turner Rd. 3 East Pulteney Square Jamestown, NY Bath, NY Phone (716) Phone (607) Fax (716) Fax (607) Erie County Extension Wayne County Extension 21 South Grove Street, Suite 320 Education Center, 1581 NYS Rte. 88N East Aurora, NY Newark, NY Phone (716) Phone (315) Fax (716) Fax (315) Genesee County Extension Wyoming County Extension 420 East Main St. 401 North Main St. Batavia, NY Warsaw, NY Phone (585) Phone (585) Fax (585) Fax (585) Livingston County Extension Yates County Extension 158 Main St. County Office Building, 417 Liberty St. Mt. Morris, NY Penn Yan, NY Phone (585) Phone (315) Fax (585) Fax (315) Monroe County Extension 249 Highland Ave. Rochester, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) Niagara County Extension 4487 Lake Ave. Lockport, NY Phone (716) Fax (716)

15 BUSINESS CONSULTING Rath Office Building 95 Franklin St., Room 1077 Phone (716) Fax (716) Erie County Division of Environmental Compliance Services Environmental Compliance Services (ECS) is a non-regulatory public assistance agency that provides technical and non-technical support to the Western New York community. The Division implements programs to help Erie County businesses, municipalities, citizens and institutions understand and comply with environmental standards and regulations, as well as to increase awareness of environmental issues to enhance the quality, use or enjoyment of air, land, and water resources. 11

16 BUSINESS CONSULTING Rath Office Building 95 Franklin St., 10 th Floor Buffalo, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Erie County Division of Planning The Division of Planning supports constituent municipalities by coordinating local planning, zoning, land use inventory and providing geographic information system mapping. Programs: Reviews all municipal actions subject to provisions of Section 239 L and M of New York State Municipal Law Conducts studies related to protecting the viability of agriculture, and is involved in the creation and recertification of the Agricultural Districts throughout the County Supports the Capital Projects Committee Involved in park and waterfront planning Administers the Erie County Community Development Block Grant Consortium*(CDBG). This Consortium comprises 34 communities which have banded together to receive federal CDBG funds. The funds are used for a variety of community planning/improvements, housing rehabilitation activities, and economic development programs. In 2002, over $6.1 million in federal block grant funds were allocated to the Consortium. * Erie County s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consortium includes all municipalities within the County except the following, which receive funding directly from the federal government: City of Buffalo, Towns of Amherst, Cheektowaga, Hamburg and Tonawanda; Villages of Blasdell, west half of Depew, Hamburg, Kenmore, Sloan and Williamsville. 12

17 BUSINESS CONSULTING 237 Main St. Suite 330 Buffalo, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Everywoman Opportunity Center, Inc. Services: Everywoman Opportunity Center, Inc. is a regional employment service provider, serving eight counties of Western New York from six sites in Buffalo, Buffalo- West Side, Tonawanda, Dunkirk, Olean and Niagara Falls. With over 25 years experience, all of Everywoman's programs and services are designed to be holistic - addressing multiple barriers that a woman may face in seeking self-sufficiency. Everywoman provides a wide variety of services customized to fit the needs of businesses, small or large. Recruiting and assessing employees Training employees in areas such as: Employer Expectations Stress Management Positive Attitude Customer Service Time Management Sexual Harassment Issues Customized employer training packages: Employee motivation techniques Sexual harassment prevention Team leadership/team work Outplacement Assessment Career counseling Case management Employment preparation Political empowerment Educational brokering Life skills training 13

18 BUSINESS CONSULTING Industrial Plaza 1 Mill St. Batavia, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) GLOW Workforce Investment Board The GLOW Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is a 46 member volunteer board comprised of 24 private sector members, 22 members from Employment & Training, Labor, Education, Economic Development, and other community based organizations. The GLOW WIB focuses on the local economy determining the needs of employers and directing program dollars to assist these needs of the local economy Baseline Road Grand Island, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Grand Island Economic Development Alliance This Alliance was created to assist businesses within Grand Island and to attract new businesses. It provides consulting services and refers businesses to various resources. 5 Bragdon Place Rochester, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) High Tech Rochester Service: High Tech Rochester located in the Greater Rochester community serves as the contact point for businesses that depend on innovation and technology to grow and remain competitive. Its mission is to enhance working relationships among government, industry, academia, and professional organizations to facilitate business development and growth. High Tech Rochester can also provide assistance to start-up companies, which have resulted from innovations in interactive media. Lennox Tech Enterprise Center 14

19 BUSINESS CONSULTING 5423 Broadway Lancaster, NY Phone (716) Fax (716) Village of Lancaster Community Development Corporation The Lancaster Village Partnership provides technical assistance to businesses located in Lancaster. It directs businesses to appropriate public and private agencies and is currently coordinating the redevelopment of the Lancaster business district and the expansion of the village s Industrial Park. 34 St. Paul Street Rochester, NY Phone (585) Fax (585) Monroe County One Stop Career Center Services: In connection with the Workforce Investment Act, the One Stop Career Center provides core services. The One Stop Career Center provides core services to anyone requesting them, including services for employers. Resource room (computers and paper files) Orientations, workshops, counseling, etc. In-depth counseling Career planning Diagnostic testing Job placement assistance 15

20 BUSINESS CONSULTING Seton Hill University Seton Hill Dr. Greensburg, PA Phone (724) Fax (724) Seton Hill University s National Education Center for Women in Business Services: Programs: The mission of Seton Hill University s National Education Center for Women in Business is to enable the economic self-sufficiency of women through advocacy and educational initiatives in entrepreneurship. Beginning with middle school students and extending through undergraduate, graduate and professional life stages, the Center has implemented diversified and tailored programs encouraging entrepreneurial skills and economic selfsufficiency. Since its inception in 1991, the Center has reached thousands of women with its model educational initiative and has assisted many more through its information clearinghouse for women entrepreneurs. ATHENAPowerLink Supporting business growth through the assistance of professional advisory panels for women business owners. Each advisory panel is tailored to fit the specific needs of the company as defined by the business plan, goals and objectives of the enterprise. The panel s goal is to ultimately help women-owned businesses learn how to network better, access capital and implement best practices. Annual Women-focused Small Business Conference Held in March each year, this comprehensive educational event highlights topics of interest to women entrepreneurs interested in growing their businesses. Topical areas include marketing, human resources, financing, technology and procurement. Collaborative Educational Programs Featuring a variety of women-focused small business workshops, seminars and forums sponsored in collaboration with resource partners, including small business development centers and the U.S. Small Business Administration, among others. 16

21 BUSINESS CONSULTING e-magnify is the official website of Seton Hill University s National Education Center for Women in Business. With a focus on entrepreneurship, e-magnify offers convenient access to a unique mix of business resources, educational offerings, news, and practical advice to help women of all ages learn, network, grow, and succeed. Free membership offers access to online education and webconferencing software, as well as delivery of the weekly newsletter, e-magnify Extra!, directly to your inbox every Monday. Envision Accessed at this student-focused microsite of challenges students to take the plunge, sharpen entrepreneurial skills and become leaders. The site s bold look, designed for today s on-the-go high school student, offers a sampling of career and professional resources available to budding entrepreneurs, an interactive quiz to assess entrepreneurial skills, and a message board to boast peer interaction. A free electronic newsletter, Envision Today, arrives monthly with articles featuring successful business leaders and topics pertinent to career-driven students. McKelvey Camp Entrepreneur Incoming college freshmen from rural communities, who otherwise might not have attended college, attend a special summer camp as part of a program intended to assist young people in returning to their roots with the skills and ability to help these economically depressed rural areas. The scholars were selected based on their ability to incorporate entrepreneurship into their daily lives. Women s Economic Development Outreach Tour of Western PA (WEDO) A dynamic group of women leaders from Western PA tour five regions in five days, bringing information and resources focusing on access to capital and expansion of your business. Advocacy The center has an information clearinghouse to link women entrepreneurs seeking individualized assistance in starting/growing their businesses to available resources. 17

22 BUSINESS CONSULTING 10 Lafayette Square, Room 800 Buffalo, NY Phone - (716) Fax - (716) National Fuel Programs: National Fuel is the natural gas provider for much of Western New York. An economic development staff is available to provide advice on sites, buildings, gas service, and assistance for HVAC and process equipment. It also provides technical assistance and incentives for energy conservation projects and methods. Empire Zone Discount Rate Industrial/Commercial Energy Audits 409 Third St. SW, Suite 210 Washington, DC Phone (202) Fax (202) National Women s Business Council The National Women s Business Council is a bi-partisan federal government advisory panel created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President and to Congress. The members of the Council are prominent women business owners and leaders of national women s business advocacy organizations. The mission of the council is to promote initiatives, policies and programs designed to foster women s business enterprise at all stages of development in the public and private sector of marketplaces. 18

23 BUSINESS CONSULTING Community Relations Division P.O. Box 277 Niagara Falls NY Phone (716) Fax (716) New York Power Authority Programs: The New York Power Authority s primary mission is to furnish the people of New York State with reliable, lower-cost electricity. It sells electricity to businesses and industries, to some government agencies, and private and public utilities for resale without profit. Economic Development Programs Provides low-cost electricity under a variety of programs to companies that will commit to creating or retaining jobs in New York State. A significant portion of these programs is specific to Western New York. Technology Development The Power Authority is an industry leader in developing and promoting new sources of energy, alternative fuels and technological advancement such as fuel cells, photovoltaic cells and electric and hybrid vehicles. Supplier Diversity Program Provides expanded opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses to participate in the contracting and competitive bidding processes, both for direct procurement of goods and services and through subcontracting opportunities. Greater Niagara Economic Development Loan Fund Provides low-interest loans for new or expanding companies in Niagara County. 19

24 BUSINESS CONSULTING 150 Erie St. Lancaster, NY Phone New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) NYSEG provides electricity and natural gas to more than 1 million customers across 40% of upstate New York, including portions of Western New York. NYSEG is a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation, a super-regional energy services and delivery company in the Northeast. NYSEG s Economic Development Team offers an array of services designed to enhance the productivity and profitability of businesses looking to establish or expand their operations in our service area. Functioning as a client s single point of contact, the Economic Development Team works with state, regional and local agencies and other NYSEG departments to prepare a comprehensive package tailored to meet our client s business needs. Programs: Business location analysis Site selection assistance Work force assessment Competitive energy pricing Financing and tax incentive assistance Energy-use consultation and analysis Manufacturing process consultation Power systems maintenance and engineering Energy technology demonstrations and assistance 20