Del Mar College Small Business Development Center Newsletter Oct-Dec 2001 101 Baldwin, VB-351 Corpus Christi, TX 78404 (361) 698-1021 www.delmar.edu/sbdc 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 the government procurement system. Our website lists the local, state and federal requirements on starting a business, upcoming seminars & workshops, procurement related topics and many items of interest. Our website address is http://www.delmar.edu/sbdc. CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE.... Personal credit histories have a major impact on business lending decisions. No matter how strong a borrower s business plan, a poor personal credit history can prevent a business loan. In many cases, loan requests are being evaluated by large computerized regional and national service centers not by local bankers. If you are faced with credit problems and would like to find out what you can do to repair or rebuild your credit, there is a free service available to you. The Consumer Credit Counseling Service of South Texas has professional counselors and educators who can help. Please call 854-4357 or 1-800-333-4357 if calling outside of the Corpus Christi area or visit their website at www.cccsstx.org. You can learn how bad credit effects consumers, employers, businesses and the community. You will also learn more about budget and financial counseling, debt repayment programs and the types of free financial education they provide. The programs and services have made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of South Texans. Things You Should Know It is estimated that over 60% of credit reports have errors. 30% of credit reports have errors serious enough to result in denial of credit. Credit bureaus generate revenues from lenders not individuals. Over 50% of collections are health care related. Inquiries look like open accounts for four months. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of your credit report, below is a list of the three major credit bureaus. Equifax/800-685-1111/www.equifax.com Experian/888-397-3742/www.experian.com Trans Union/800-888-4213/www.transunion.com SBDC STAFF Ann Fierova Director Dwayne R. Meeker PTAC Program Manager Sean P. Smith Procurement Consultant Chuddy Crocker Elizabeth Soliz Cynthia Willeford Larry Ellis Lisa Farr Inside this Issue: SBDC Services & Programs...1 Credit Counseling Service...1 Success Stories... 2 PTAC Services.. 3 TxDOT Tables.. 4 Training Schedule 5-6 Training Coordinator Margie Silguero Associate PTAC Consultant
Exemplary Lending Partner of the Year........ The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recognized American Bank, N.A. recently as Exemplary Lending Partner of the Year. The award was presented at the annual Mid-America Lenders Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas on August 8-10, 2001. The conference represents banks from throughout the SBA five-state region of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana. The SBA holds the conference yearly in an effort to motivate financial institutions to make more loans to customers who otherwise would not have received financing. Throughout the training, workshops are presented by SBA personnel who give the lenders the tools necessary to make more loans in their respective communities. American Bank, N.A. has been involved with SBA lending since the mid-1970 s. American Bank, N.A. became a Certified Lender in September 1994 and a Preferred Lender in September 1996. Over the years, American Bank, N.A. has consistently participated with the Small Business Admin i- stration in providing quality lending to the small business community through their expert use of SBA s various loan programs. (Reg. 7a, PLP, LowDoc, SBAExpress). American Bank, N.A. has become a very valuable lending partner in the Coastal Bend area. Pictured at this year s award ceremony from left to right are: Mr. Wayne Meyr, Branch Executive Officer at American Bank, N.A. and Ms. Sylvia Zamponi, district director of the SBA Harlingen District. Success Story....... Dr. Gregory C. Schlimmer's dream of opening his own dental practice will become a reality in July 2001, the anticipated grand opening of his office in The Enclave at 5525 South Staples. Dr. Schlimmer received his D.D.S. from University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in 2000 and returned home to Corpus Christi in hopes of opening his own practice. He contacted the Del Mar College Small Business Development Center in February 2001, for help in structuring his financials and business plan. SBDC counselor Michael North assisted him in preparing a business plan and loan proposal requesting the necessary funding through the SBA's LowDoc program. Dr. Schlimmer approached AmericanBank for the financing and both the bank and the SBA approved him for the loan enabling Dr. Schlimmer to achiev e his dream. In addition to the SBA loan, AmericanBank also approved Dr. Schlimmer for a separate line of credit for his working capital needs. Dr. Schlimmer stated, "I would not have been able to purchase equipment, lease the office, or pay for the finish-out costs without the SBA loan. The 10 year payback terms significantly decreased my monthly loan payment over the other types of loans I was looking into. This is a wonderful service the Del Mar SBDC is offering." Mike North, SBDC with Dr. Gregory C. Schlimmer.
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) 101 Baldwin, VB-351 Corpus Christi, TX 78404 (361) 698-1023 dmeeker@delmar.edu 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 Counties. 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 DID YOU KNOW........? How TxDOT Purchases Goods and Services Economic Opportunities with the Department of Defense....... "Mark your calendars for the Economic Opportunities with Department of Defense Conference to be held, Wednesday, December 5th, 2001 at the NorthShore Country Club in Portland. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for you to learn about conducting business with the Department of Defense (DOD) as well as meet with DOD contracting repr e- sentatives that work with businesses like yours everyday! Opportunities will be provided for you to network with government purchasing agents, attend educational and informative seminars, and learn how to access procurement opportunities online. For more information or to RSVP, please call Margie Silguero at (361) 698-1025 or Sean Smith at (361) 698-2221. TxDOT purchases a wide variety of items and services, from paperclips to heavy duty machinery. With different items requiring sp ecific purchasing procedures, deciphering how you can sell your product or service to TxDOT is a challenge at best. Help is on the way! This issue contains the first in a series of articles on how TxDOT makes procurements. Everything we buy will fall into one of the follow categories: Goods: also called supplies/commodities and Services (other than professional): computers and related supplies, office supplies, equipment, printing, janitorial services, programming services, security services, etc. Construction: heavy highway construction and sub-contracting, hauling, etc. Professional Services: Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, etc. Maintenance: of highways and roadside rest areas, facilities, etc. The following chart explains how TxDOT buys the majority of Goods and Services. For further information, please contact TxDOT s Purchasing Section at (512) 416-2047.
Small Business Seminars for October 1, 2001 December 31, 2001 Seminars are subject to change, please call Lisa at (361) 698-1021 in advance DATE SEMINAR TITLE TIME LOCATION COST 10-3-01 Introduction to Microsoft Office 2000 for Small Business 10-6-01 Introduction to Microsoft Office 2000 for Small Business 10-11-01 How to use Your Financial Statements to Manage Your Small Business 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters 10-15-01 Keeping the Books 9:00 am - 12:00 pm South Gate Mall, Kingsville, TX 10-16-01 Employers Tax Workshop 8:30 am - 11:30 am Del Mar College, Venters 10-17-01 Keeping the Books 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters 10-18-01 SBA Contractor Programs for Existing Small Businesses 10-19-01 Introduction to QuickBooks Pro 2001 Part I 10-23-01 Using Microsoft OutLook & FrontPage 2000 in Marketing Your Small Business 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters $25.00 Pre-payment Required 10-23-01 Keeping the Books 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Brooks County, Ed Rachal Memorial Library, 203 S. Henry, Falfurrias, TX 10-24-01 What Quality Customer Service Means to Your Small Business 10-26-01 Business Owners Say Show me the Money 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters 8:00-11:00 am part I 1:00 4:00 pm part II Del Mar College, Venters of Charge The Del Mar College s Small Business Development Center is partially funded under Cooperative Agreement No. 1-7620-0049-15-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) 698-1021.
Small Business Seminars for October 1, 2001 December 31, 2001 Seminars are subject to change, please call Lisa at (361) 698-1021 in advance DATE SEMINAR TITLE TIME LOCATION COST 11-02-01 Introduction to QuickBooks Pro 2001 Part II Fee paid at Part I 11-07-01 Buying or Selling a Business 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 11-08-01 Starting Your Business, Developing Your Business Plan 11-13-01 Introduction to Word 2000 and PowerPoint 2000 11-13-01 IRS E-File Technical Workshop 1:30 pm 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters Business Bldg. Room 100 11-13-01 Basic Computer Class Business Bldg. Room 301 11-15-01 Starting Your Business, Step by Step 11-15-01 SBA Contractor Programs for Existing Small Business 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Live Oak County Three Rivers City Hall, 105 Harborth, Three Rivers 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Del Mar College, Venters 11-27-01 Small Business Tax Workshop 11-27-01 Introduction to Excel 2000 and Access 2000 11-28-01 Starting Your Business: Financing and Loan Planning 12-05-01 Economic Opportunities with the Department of Defense 12-07-01 Introduction to QuickBooks Pro 2001 Part I 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm Del Mar College, Venters 8:00 am 2:00 pm NorthShore Country Club - Portland $20.00 $25.00 Pre-payment Required The Del Mar College s Small Business Development Center is partially funded under Cooperative Agreement No. 1-7620-0049-15-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) 698-1021.