Town of Hamden
Business Assistance Center
Introduction:
The Town of Hamden Business Assistance Center (BAC) is a consortium of several partners that each play a unique role in the delivery and tracking of small business services in Hamden. The center will be managed by the Director of Economic and Community Development who, working with a Program Coordinator, will delegate and coordinate responsibilities among members of the consortium. The BAC will be headquartered at Hamden Government Center at 2750 Dixwell Ave. Services will be offered at other satellite locations including but not limited to the M.L. Keefe Center at 11 Pine St, Quinnipiac University and Miller Library.
The Hamden Business Assistance Center (BAC) will perform the role of an umbrella entity to (1) provide technical assistance and training through its partners and appropriate agencies (“providers”) and (2) facilitate small business access to services and capital offered by the providers within the Town of Hamden, CT and South-Central Region of Connecticut.
The BAC will refer clients to the appropriate sources for hands on technical assistance through some free general seminars and a new fee based Business Certification Program, which will include workshops and training in the business disciplines needed. The Coordinator will ensure that the consortium tracks services and ongoing consultation provided to its clients, and that they are registered for appropriate available certification opportunities for business growth.
The partners of the BAC are:
· The Program Coordinator
The Program Coordinator will be an experienced business professional working on a part time basis under the direction of the Director of Economic and Community Development. Responsibilities of the Program Coordinator shall be to ensure the efficient operation of the Business Assistance Center. The Coordinator shall:
1. Handle calls and visits to the BAC from existing and prospective small business owners and entrepreneurs to determine their needs, enter them into a database and direct them to the most appropriate source of technical assistance.
2. Coordinate an outreach program with the Hamden Chamber of Commerce and business service providers in order to improve efficiency. The Town, the Chamber of Commerce and the Coordinator of the BAC (Town) will utilize the outreach effort and marketing plan to build awareness of the BAC and the Town’s other incentives.
3. The Coordinator shall receive progress reports from BAC clients and technical assistants providers and record outcomes.
· Quinnipiac University
The Coordinator will work with students from the Business Entrepreneurial Center to provide intake and tracking of the small businesses participating in the program. Students from the business program will also provide Technical Assistance in terms of Business Plans, Cash Flow & Financial Reporting, Credit Repair and Assistance, etc.
The students will develop a database to describe the services that members of the consortium offer, and will work with the Coordinator to maintain contact with each business client, track the clients and their needs (from initiation to completion).
· Hamden Chamber of Commerce
Will assist businesses in marketing opportunities and techniques and provide access to Business-to-Business opportunities. Emphasis may be place in assisting minority and women-owned enterprises.
· CT. Minority Supplier Development Council
Will provide assistance to minority business enterprises (MBE’s) in marketing and business growth. Emphasis will be placed on creating opportunities to do business with large corporate entities. They will also help clients to take advantage of bidding opportunities through State (i.e. Department of Administrative Services) and Federal Agencies (i.e. SBA).
· Hamden Economic Development Commission
Will coordinate the program through Director of the Office of the Economic and Community Development. This office will provide outreach for seminars and the certification program established by the Consortium. This office will also provide technical assistance related to grant and loan programs offered by the Town, State and other regional sources of capital. The Hamden EDC will also serve as a linkage to array of Technical Assistance Providers, as required.
The advantage of managing the BAC through Hamden’s Economic and Community Development Department with the assistance of a Program Coordinator, is that it is already a primary entry point for business inquiries of all types and with an experienced and well known and respected Program Coordinator, has the capacity to market the program of the BAC through established networks.
· Technical Assistance Providers:
There are a number of qualified technical assistance organizations dedicated to assisting businesses provide service to Hamden residents and businesses. Access to these resources is not optimally managed at present and referrals happen in an ad hoc way. Small business owners, or would be small business owners, are often frustrated and give up their attempts to become entrepreneurs because of their lack of access to resources. The BAC will direct prospects to the services they require. The Technical Assistance Providers will each be able to offer referred clients their specialized services.
· Members of the Economic Development Commission shall serve on an Advisory Committee to advise the Director on the work of the BAC. Additionally, representatives of the Hamden Chamber of Commerce, Quinnipiac University, and technical assistance organizations may serve on the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall assist the Coordinator in establishing an effective client referral methodology and outreach effort. This Advisory Committee will meet quarterly and may be called to meet more frequently as needed.
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Hamden Economic & Community Development
2750 Dixwell Ave.,
Hamden, CT, 06518
(203) 287-7030
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