If there are business owners and or entrepreneurs who have attempted to obtain loans for their ventures and don’t know what to do when asked for a ‘business plan’, current financial statements or other issues, a service by the Small Business Development Center my help.
“The Valley Fire was the most devastating event our business has faced,” observed Julie Hoskins of Chic le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake. “After we realized our business was still standing we had tough decisions to make on the viability of continuing with a $35,000 loss.”
Melissa Fulton, of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, called in the first week after rebuild efforts were under way. She introduced the catering firm and restaurant to Andy Nester of the Small Business Development Center.
“Thanks to Andy’s advice we’ve adopted customer service surveys, secret shopper programs, and finally are in process of a beer and wine license,” Hoskins said. “These milestones would probably still be things we need to do but would not have if Andy Nester does not check on us weekly.
To date many existing businesses, start ups and aspiring entrepreneurs have received the benefit of Andy Nester/SBDC’ services which are free and confidential. We feel that many businesses in Lake County can benefit from the services provided through the partnership of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, MPIC/Workforce and Nester.
“After the usual beating one takes when opening a new business I was privileged to meet Andy Nester, Business Advisor, Lake County SBDC Hub,” said Ken Stiritz of Precious Forest Weddings and Retreats in Lucerne. “I had used other coaches who added emotional support and effort before but I finally found with Andy what I was needing: The experience to write a viable business plan in a professional manner with nuts and bolts business experience, right to the point.”
In March 2015, the Lake County Chamber signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Capital Region SBDC to be the lead agency in Lake County for the Capital Region headed up by the SacMetro Chamber of Commerce. The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber and the College of Business Administration at Sacramento State University had formed a strategic partnership to manage the federal Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for eight northern California counties (Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Lake, Colusa and portions of Placer and El Dorado).
A major partner in this venture has been MPIC/Workforce in Lakeport and Clearlake. To accommodate meetings with Lake County SBDC clients and our consultant Andy Nester, MPIC remodeled two offices into one in their Lakeport location. Their office located at the Woodland College Campus (formerly Yuba) is available for meetings, as well. There is also a special phone line for businesses to call to arrange for meetings with Nester at (707) 530-2326.
The Lake County Chamber is currently seeking additional qualified business consultants to increase our capacity to serve local businesses stated chamber CEO, Melissa Fulton. Consultants are paid through the chamber’s contract with the Capital Region SBDC. For anyone interested in applying, please send your resume to: ceo@lakecochamber.com.
