Semi-Annual Report Program Year 2011

Transcription

1 Semi-Annual Report Program Year 2011 Tennessee Small Business Development Center Austin Peay State University Feleesha Page Johnson Director

2 Introduction and Summary The TSBDC provides management and technical assistance to existing and prospective small business owners. The TSBDC is a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration which provides its primary funding. Austin Peay State University provides additional indirect support to the Center. Services include accounting services, human resources, technology support and support staff from the Center for Extended and Distance Education. During the reporting period, the TSBDC provided confidential, specialized counseling to more than 219 individuals. An additional 333 people were in attendance at one or more of the 40 training sessions offered by the Center in cooperation with the Center for Extended and Distance Education. Training sessions and workshop services were offered in Montgomery, Humphreys, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham, Robertson and Stewart counties. This year-to-date report conforms to the Small Business Administration s required format, including section headings. Supplemental information has been incorporated where appropriate. Questions or requests for additional information should be directed to Feleesha Page Johnson, TSBDC Director at or [email protected] or [email protected] Advocacy Partnered with Houston County Public Library to present business workshops. Partnered with the Clarksville Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Director is a member of the Clarksville Montgomery County Business Development Committee and participates in monthly meetings and industry visits. Partnered with Dickson County Chamber of Commerce to present monthly workshops and/or counseling sessions in Dickson, White Bluff and Charlotte, TN. Partnered with Workforce Essential to host Government Contracting Workshops Quarterly. Partnered with Fort Campbell, KY ACAP participated at Job Fair in March. Partnered with the ACS (Army Community Services) to conduct monthly workshops at Ft. Campbell, KY. Partnered with the Directorate of Contracting at Ft. Campbell KY, to promote TSBDC services and assisted clients with Central Contractor Registration.

3 Partnered with Hispanic Latino Organization to promote TSBDC services and programs community. Partnered with Community Shopper Magazine to present Business Tips Blog on webpage and Facebook. The Center is partnering with the Department of Human Services, Child Care Division, Child Care Resource and Referral, TECTA and the Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education (HOPE) to promote childcare workshops for Non-English speaking providers and employers Conducted business start-up presentations at four (3) childcare workshops held by the TN Department of Human Services. Made presentations to members of the Houston County Rotary Club, in Erin TN. Partnered with State of TN Vocational Rehabilitation Program, conducted presentation for staff in regards services available through the TSBDC. Partnered with Clarksville Regional Minority Business Center sharing information and working with their clients Partnered with CSBNA with youth workshops and business mixers for minority business owners. Partnered with HOPE Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education promoting the TSBDC services and programs. Partnered with the Gathering presented Business Planning workshops and Provided counseling, and shared TSBDC information in regards to SBDC services. Partnered with Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) to host Business workshops during their conference in June Partnered with the Montgomery County Veteran s Service Organization and the Clarksville Montgomery County Career Center to Host Veteran s Outreach Seminars. Partnered with the Women Veterans of America Chapter 20 to host seminars and create awareness to veterans both retired and active duty. Partnered with the United State Postal Service to offer workshops. Partnered with USDA to provide workshop for Veterans at Ft. Campbell. Partnered with the Veterans Upward Bound Program to provide additional training to Veterans. Services were provided to each of the seven counties (Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphries, Montgomery, Robertson and Stewart) and the Ft. Campbell Military Installation Capital Formation Worked with local banks in each county to expand and develop relationships with the lending institutions who were interested in working with small businesses and the SBA loan programs.

4 Partnered with SBA to conduct lender training in the counties serviced by the TSBDC. Partnered with US Bank to host workshops. Partnered with Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union to host workshop for staff and Branch Managers on TSBDC Programs and Services. Partnered with Altra Federal Credit Union. Partnered with Regions Bank to offer Lender Training to promote SBA and TSBDC Programs and Services. Promoted the Community and the Patriot Express lending programs and workshops in all service areas. Promoted the Tennessee s Small and Minority Owned Business Loan Program. Assisted clients in completing business plans and projections. Created new Lending contacts via Bank listing provided by SBA Innovation/Technology Transfer Partnered with Center for Extended and Distance Education to provide opportunities for business professionals to work with small businesses. Partnered with Montgomery and Dickson County Chambers to assist with Social Networking workshops. Partnered with the Gathering and Clarksville Montgomery County Library to present workshops for clients on Computer training, Social Networking, Internet Search, Microsoft word Refresher. Installation of computers in Dickson County Library, Houston County Public Library, Robertson County Chamber of Commerce, Stewart County Public Library and Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce. Participated in Professional Development workshops and webinars. Purchased laptops with docking stations and projectors to better facilitate and enhance workshops and off site counseling sessions. Creation of Facebook page, business blogs tips. Worked with Inventors Association in Nashville, TN to provide assistance TSBDC clients International Trade Worked with the staff of the International Trade Center, BERO and referred clients for specialized counseling as needed. Training on SBDCGlobal.

5 Minority Small Business Development Table 1: Minorities Served by the TSBDC Program Year 2011 Individual Counseling 47 Seminars 117 *Minorities include all ethnicities with the exception of Caucasian. As described above, presented numerous workshops to minority and low income groups promoting business development and financing opportunities. The Center assisted several Hispanic business owners initiating their business plan and processing capital request paperwork. The Center established communication and receives monthly event newsletters with the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Center sponsored four Government Contracting workshop in cooperation with the Small Business Administration offering assistance to minority-owned businesses. The Center Director partners with the Clarksville Regional Minority Business Center encouraging their members to participate in TSBDC programs and workshops Made presentations on business development at Fort Campbell, KY Directorate of Contracting ACS for Minority owned Businesses. The Center is partnering with the Department of Human Services, Child Care Referral and Resource Services, TECTA and Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education (HOPE) to promote childcare workshops to non-english speaking providers. Partnered with Hispanic Latino Organization to promote TSBDC services and programs to the community. Partnered with HOPE Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education to Promote SBDC services and programs. Participated in the Women s Forum Resource Development The Center received additional local non-cash match from Austin Peay State University through the Center for Extended and Distance Education.

6 The Center has also partnered with the Clarksville US Bank on Madison Street. The bank provides a speaker for each Starting a Small Business workshop and presents participants with information necessary for securing capital for their businesses as well as workshop accommodations. The in-kind value of the services provided by the institution exceeds $1, for the reporting period. The Center has initiated a partnership with Dickson County Chamber of Commerce. The organization provides a meeting location for SBDC workshops and schedules counseling sessions and referrals to the SBDC for assistance. The in-kind value of the services provided exceeds $1, for the reporting period. The Center is partnering with Fort Campbell Army Community Services Center. They provide the SBDC with workshop space, speakers, use of copier and fax machine, telephone and referrals to the TSBDC at APSU. The in-kind value of the services provided by ACS exceeds $ for the reporting period. The Center partnered with Creative Strategies/ Superior Financial Group to host workshops. The organization provided a speaker for presentations. The in-kind value of the services provided exceeds $ for the reporting period. The Center partnered with the Clarksville Career Center to host workshops and seminars. They provided the SBDC with workshop space, use of copiers and referrals to the SBDC for assistance. The in-kind value of the services provided exceeds $ The Center has continued to partner with local Chambers of Commerce, public libraries and the Clarksville Montgomery County Career Center located in the seven county service areas Procurement The Center partnered with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services Procurement Technical Assistance Center to offer individual counseling to qualified clientele. The Center provides meeting space, promotional assistance, and scheduling support for a UT-PTAC government contracting specialist. This helps local TSBDC clients identify opportunities to sell to government agencies and assists them with the required paperwork. This service is available upon client request.

7 The Center Provides assistance to FT. Campbell Directorate of Contracting by offering assistance to clients. Assist with the CCR registration, bid packet evaluation, preparation of documents for bids and solicitations Special Emphasis The Center Director has established a relationship with Chambers of Commerce in Humphreys, Houston, Stewart, Cheatham, Robertson and Dickson counties. In addition, the Center Director is establishing contact and relationships with local loan officers and prospective financial institutions in each area as well as working with each county to establish a satellite location at each chamber or library. The Center participates in workshops planned by Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development. The Center participates and supports events sponsored by TSU-UT Agriculture. The Center participates and supports events sponsored by USDA. The Center is partnering with the Department of Human Services, Child Care Referral and Resource Services, TECTA and Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education (HOPE) to promote childcare workshops to non-english speaking providers. The Center participates with the Clarksville Family Child Care Group. The Center has partnered with the BNI Business Networking group in Clarksville. Partnered with Hispanic Latino Organization to promote TSBDC services and programs to the community. Partnered with HOPE Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education to Promote SBDC services and programs. Participated in the Women s Forum. The Center participates in and supports community events. The Center partnered with Hands on Clarksville to host workshops Economic Development Staff continued assisting Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development and the Clarksville Downtown District Partnership groups in developing plans for revitalization of the Clarksville community through business development, credit repair and financing opportunities. The Center director serves on the Clarksville Montgomery County Chamber Business Development committee. The Center continues to counsel and provide training workshops to clients in following counties Montgomery, Humphreys, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham, Robertson and Stewart counties. The Center director continues to work with the Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce to promote a new capital campaign Cheatham Vision.

8 1000 Research Began utilizing the research services of SBDCNet to benefit small businesses in the APSU service area. Increased usage of Reference USA resources. Utilization of the APSU GIS program for client research and information Other Activity The Center presented two Basic Business Plan workshops at the Department of Human Service Daycare Orientations and provided vouchers for the attendees to attend regularly scheduled sessions of Writing a Business Plan. The Center director presented two (2) workshops to the Family Child Care Group. The Center sponsored the first Child Care Mini Conference with the Department of Human Services (John Garnett) The Center maintains regular communication with its clientele, providing partners and other stakeholders through notifications of workshops and seminars. With the clients permission, the Center creates and distributes press release information to the Leaf Chronicle that showcases the success of local business owners. The Leaf Chronicle publishes events on a monthly basis. The Center also offers basic accounting, economic and management courses to the public so they understand more about financial statements and grasp the broader concepts behind economics. Revising the APSU-TSBDC website OTHER ACTIVITIES: Success Stories TSBDC-APSU clients have obtained 2 SBA loans totaling $237,500. in value. TSBDC-APSU clients have obtained $1302, in capital formation. TSBDC-APSU clients have been received contracts in excess of $150,000.00, in contracts.

9 Grace Welding was awarded this year s Rising Star Award for excellence in business planning. Higher Learning Childcare Inc. has continued with the renovation of their building. TBT Construction has continued to expand and grow Joan Shoup Publishing received SBA Funding 1300 Travel The Center staff visit the six surrounding rural counties and Ft. Campbell, KY, on a monthly basis and on-call pending the needs of the client and the Chamber of Commerce. Center Staff participated in a Conference at David Lipscomb and Judge business plans. The Center staff participate and attend the State Wide meetings Problems The Natural disasters which have occurred have stifled business growth in several of the counties serviced. Changes in the SBA lending programs. Clients ability to obtain credit. Staffing concerns Financial Reports (Including Milestone Accomplishments and Program Deliverables) The Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Austin Peay State University provided the following counseling and training services during January 1 June 30, 2011: The TSBDC accomplished the following milestones for session attendance during the reporting period.

10 1500 FINANCIAL REPORTS: Table 2: Training/Educational Milestones Program Year 2011 Milestone Actual % Goal Achieved Training % Table 3: Counseling Milestones Program Year 2011 Milestone Actual % Goal Achieved Counseling Cases % Average Hours per Case Goal % Total Hours % Table 4: Special Focus Milestones Program Year 2010 Milestone Actual % Goal Achieved SBA s 8 (a) Orientation % Workshops SBA s Lender s % Workshops SBA s Borrowers % Workshops Veterans Workshops 6 10

11 1600 Women-Owned Businesses The Center presented one Basic Business Plan workshop to individuals attending the DHS Daycare Orientation and provided vouchers for the attendees to attend regularly scheduled sessions of Writing a Business Plan workshops. Participation in the Women s forum created additional awareness for the SBDC and the services provided. Partnered with and participated with the Women Veterans of America Chapter 20 to host Created a partnership with First Federal Savings bank to promote services and programs to Women Owned Business. Table 5: Women Served by the TSBDC Program Year 2011 Individual Counseling 46 Seminars Economic Impact Several TSBDC clients have made successful progress starting a new business during the reporting period. As the base of client businesses mature and the reputation and expertise of the service center increases; the economic impact generated by assistance provided should increase significantly in future years Veteran and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses The Center partnered with the SBA District Office to present twelve sessions of How to Start a Small Business to active duty and retired military and their families at Ft. Campbell, KY. The workshops were attended by 48 individuals. Table 6: Veterans Served by the TSBDC Program Year 2011 Individual Counseling 49 Seminars 205 The staff has an ongoing effort to work with veterans with disabilities, veteran owned businesses and military personnel transitioning into civilian life. Assist veterans interested in SBA s Patriot Loan Express program. Provided Veterans with the TSBDC Resource Guide to Veteran Services.

12 Provided Veterans with the AW2 and Wounded Warrior Programs with additional assistance. Participated in the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organizations Community Outreach events. Participated in the Montgomery County Veteran s Outreach Seminar. Participated in the Women Veterans Outreach event. Partnered with USDA to provide workshop for Veterans at Ft. Campbell. Partnered with the Veterans Upward Bound Program to provide additional training to Veterans Manufacturing No data to report Online Activity The Lead Center offers on-line counseling and workshops. Clients are made aware of the additional services and are encouraged to visit the TSBDC website for additional information. Partnered with FRANNET to offer webinars for client training. Center partnered with APSU Center for Extended and Distance education offer on line training.