Web Program Equips Entrepreneurs With Vital Tools
Published May 27, 2009
Starting a small business is challenging, but even more challenging is profiting from it. That’s why the California Association for Local Economic Development and its Academy for Economic Development launched The Tools for Business Success, a Web feed designed to help startup companies and small businesses in the marketplace.
Developed in spring 2007, The Tools for Business Success offers more than 300 pages of resources that are continually updated to give entrepreneurs reliable information through local Web sites. Subscribers and host organizations include cities, counties, economic development corporations, Small Business Development Centers and chambers of commerce. The program allows subscribers to provide up-to-date business information for local entrepreneurs without committing the staff time to research and stay on top of changes.
“Because this information appears on Web pages identical to the host organization’s homepage, it appears they have gathered and are maintaining the material,” says Kay Reynolds, founding partner of The Tools for Business Success. “As of February 2009, over 80 organizations in California were providing this information to their business communities, and there are 40-plus hosts in other states. One EDC has had over 8,600 hits on its site.”
Entrepreneurs aspiring to start a business and current business owners can visit a host organization’s customized Web site to learn about forming a business, get salary information for more than 850 positions, find information about state and federal business programs and opportunities, learn about making sustainable business decisions, and more.
“What I enjoy most about The Tools is the excitement I see when community leaders realize they really can make a difference for their entrepreneurs without investing much of their time and budget,” Reynolds says. “I loved it when the director of an EDC told me he was continually getting calls from his businesses, saying, ‘Do you realize what you’ve given us? This is wonderful.’ ”
For more information, visit www.toolsforbusiness.info.
Story by Jessica Mozo
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