Business Development and Workforce Training Center Taskforce

Members:

Julie Badger Farmers & Merchants Bank
Pam Barefoot Blue Crab Bay Company
Paul Berge ANPDC
Jeffery Davis Verizon Communications
Brenda Holden VPI Extension
Greg Manter Eastern Shore Economic Development
Lee Mapp VESEEHC
Tammy Mason Shore Bank
Richard Jenkins Eastern Shore Community College
Mary Walker, Chairman Eastern Shore Community College

The Business Development and Workforce Training Center Task Force has two goals aimed at the economic development of the Eastern Shore. These goals are the establishment of an Eastern Shore office of the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads Inc. and the creation of a Business Development and Workforce Training Center on the campus of Eastern Shore Community College.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Hampton Roads, Inc.
The Eastern Shore Regional Partnership, the Eastern Shore Community College (http://www.es.vccs.edu/), and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (http://www.hrccva.com/) cosponsor the Eastern Shore office of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Hampton Roads Inc. The office also receives funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov/).

COUNSELING SERVICES

The purpose of the SBDC is to make business management counseling, information resources, technical assistance, and training more readily available to those small businesses that frequently do not know where to go or how to access such help. The Small Business Development Centers provide high-quality, in-depth business counseling and training services to help grow and strengthen the Eastern Shore's businesses.

The VSBDC can help with:

• Business planning § Marketing assistance
• Preliminary export assistance
• Women's Business Enterprise certification
• Economic and business data
• Business resource library
• Assistance in researching and approaching business financing sources
• Financing through the SBA
• Pre-Qualification Loan Program
• Site location analysis
• Licensing and regulation information
• Cash flow and tax counseling
• Specialized training workshops

No Charge for Counseling Services. The information, management counseling, and technical assistance services of the VSBDC professional staff are provided at no charge. Fees may be collected, however, to recover specified client-approved charges for such items as printing, computer time and resources, and postage. A nominal fee may be charged for training workshops.

Confidentiality. The full disclosure of financial and/or other proprietary information to the SBDC by the client is usually essential in order to provide effective assistance. All clients are assured that such information is held in complete confidence at all times.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The SBDC also conducts workshops and seminars on many topics related to starting and operating a business in Virginia. In cooperation with the Eastern Shore Community College (http://www.es.vccs.edu/), the office cosponsors the NxLevel classes for start-ups and established businesses. Each NxLevel course includes:

• A certified, experienced business instructor joined by prominent guest speakers frrm the local business community.
• Networking opportunities with Eastern Shore business leaders and participants.
• Comprehensive textbooks, workbooks, resource guides and handouts.
• One-on-one business counseling and support.

Contact the office to receive the latest schedule of upcoming training events.

HOW TO CONTACT THE SBDC

Sarah Bernart Gromow, a part-time business analyst, staffs the Eastern Shore office of the SBDC. Hours are by appointment. The office is located in the Virginia Employment Commission Office at 25036 Lankford Hwy. (Rt. 13) in Onley. She can be reached at:

SBDC Hampton Roads
PO Box 133
Melfa, VA 23410-0133
Tel: 757-789-3418
Fax: 757-302-2026
Email:sbdc@esva.net

Business Development and Workforce Training Center

The Regional Partnership proposes the construction of a Business Development and Workforce Training Center to be located on the campus of Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, Virginia. The building would supply much needed room for existing workforce training programs and would include the following space provisions:

State of the art technology distance learning classrooms and computer laboratories Conference facilities
Office space
Studio space
Flexible meeting space with movable walls
Kitchen facilities

Programs and services to be housed in the building include the following:
Small Business Development Center
Eastern Shore Community College workforce training programs
Additional workforce training programs

For further information about the Business Development and Workforce Training Center,

Dr. Richard Jenkins, President
Eastern Shore Community College
29300 Lankford Highway
Melfa, VA 23410
(757) 787-5907 phone
(757) 787-5984 fax
rjenkins@es.vccs.edu