Dec. 11, 2006
Rural small businesses to get boost from King County, Green River Community College partnership
King County is providing a roving business consultant to assist small businesses in the rural areas of Enumclaw, Black Diamond and the Snoqualmie Valley. As part of its commitment to rural economic development King County is funding a one year pilot program through the Green River Community College Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC) that will make business planning expertise available to small businesses beginning in January 2007.
"Our Rural Circuit Rider program is kind of like a mobile small business incubator for the rural area," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "We make successful marketing and business expertise more accessible to rural small businesses by putting it directly in their community."
The county has partnered with the SBAC at Green River Community College on this program by contracting with the center to hire and oversee the circuit rider, which will bring the myriad of SBAC services directly to businesses in the community. King County will provide $110,000 for salary, benefits, travel, office rent, supplies and marketing materials.
The Green River Community College SBAC is designed to provide technical assistance to small businesses in south King and north Pierce County areas. The SBAC offers assessment, referral services, business counseling at no charge, and hands-on training to small business owners and managers.
Counseling sessions are at no cost to the client. Workshops and classes are available at a low cost to the participant. Assistance in developing bankable loan proposals is available for those clients needing capital. The mission of the SBAC is to improve the profitability of independent businesses, thereby stimulating economic growth in our community.
The "circuit rider" is a state certified business advisor, with expertise in business planning, marketing financial analysis and personnel management. The circuit rider will most likely have office space at locations in Enumclaw, Black Diamond and the Snoqualmie Valley and will connect small businesses with the services offered by the SBAC. Assistance provided to businesses will include:
- One-on-one intensive and continuous services to existing businesses to help them achieve the highest levels of efficiency and profitability.
- Referrals for technical assistance to providers and partners of the SBAC.
- Workshops and seminars in communities to address areas of high interest.
The partnership is very beneficial to the community because it's like taking all of the resources and expertise available through the award winning Green River Community College's Small Business Assistance Center and bringing it out to rural communities," said Sims.
You can contact the SBAC office by calling 253-333-4953 and asking to set up an appointment to meet with one of the certified business advisors who will be providing the services. There are also many excellent resources available online at www.Greenriver.edu/businesscenter.