| Incubator Community Breeds Small Business Success |
Golden, CO -- The Business and Innovation Center is called an incubator because it “hatches” fledgling businesses into full-blown enterprises. It has, on an average, 14 tenants in its 8,500 square feet of space at the Denver West Office Park. A Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is also located here as well as a nearby SCORE office, whose members volunteer their time to help new, small businesses become successful. Partial support comes from private industry through corporate membership. Subsidies usually operate for the first three years of the small businesses accepted into the incubator program. The incubators are expected to grow into self-sufficiency within that time and “graduate” into outside facilities. Most incubator facilities are affiliated with universities, where professional and academic personnel are available to assist in guidance and advisory capacities. The National Business Incubation Association is located at 20 East Circle Drive, Suite 190, Athens, Ohio, 45701. Phone is (740) 593-4331.
| Desert Storm Reservists Aided |
Minneapolis, MN -- The owner of a local firm was called into service and taken away from his business during Operation Desert Storm. He was one of several from the area to be dislocated during this military emergency. While in some cases the wives took over, the local SCORE chapter jumped into the breach with team assistance on various levels—at no cost. The value of such professional services is difficult to estimate, but is indubitably of greater pragmatic value than a bank or SBA loan.
| Sweet on Sourdough |
San Luis Obispo, CA-- A couple who loved San Francisco sourdough bread decided that the area was ripe for a hometown bakery that furnished locals with the Golden Bay’s famed specialty. They leased a 2500 sq. ft. building, obtained two small loans from a lender who was backed by SBA guaranties, hired one expert employee, lined up two outlets, and began producing 150 one-pound loaves each night. It took but three weeks to increase production, due to word-of-mouth demand. Next, the company expanded into a new 18,000 sq. ft. building and increased its market into much of Southern California. Sales rose to $3,000,000 due to the right amount of dough -- from San Francisco and the SBA.
| Gourmet Cookie Company Kneads Way to Wealth |
New York City -- The Big Apple appears to be a tough orchard in which to grow a new company. However, a California woman transplanted to New York City opened her own deluxe cookie company after six years of work apprenticeship at a leading hotel. A friend recommended the local SCORE chapter as a counseling resource, and she attended a pre-business workshop. One of the counselors helped her in the preparation of a business plan. The latter identified competition, needed production levels for desired cash flow, location, and personnel requirements. Her initial factory was in a wholesale bakery. She attended local gift shows and utilized trade publications for publicity and small ads. The next year she opened a trial retail shop and moved into her own baking facility. The assigned SCORE counselor was with her every step of the way and the combined efforts have paid dividends.
| International Trade from Deep in the Heart of Texas |
Midland, TX -- Exporting can originate anywhere in the vast United States. The Texas Department of Commerce passes on leads and inquiries to local SCORE and chamber of commerce chapters. One of them is a local oil and gas drilling operation. In addition to passing on the sales lead from a company in the Philippines, the local SCORE chapter invited the oil company to an international trade seminar. Result: profitable export of equipment produced by existing facilities, all at no cost to the company.
| Business Higher Than a Kite |
San Diego, CA -- Two brothers who as boys loved flying kites, realized their young dreams by going into the manufacturing of scientifically designed kites. Of course, in the growing-up process, one of the brothers became an aeronautical engineer with an MBA from USC, while the other became an engineer-designer. A “big brother” was added when the local SCORE office was approached for some free business assistance to the new company, which was located in a garage. The SCORE counselor, with experience in export, advised them to look into foreign trade. A trip to Japan resulted in a working relationship with the huge Sony Corporation. The business is still a family affair (mother is the number one helper) and is prospering. Says one of the brother partners, “I never thought we'd get in so far, so fast.”
| Committee Scores 100% Loan Acceptance |
Salem, OR -- Getting a loan for a new or small expanding business is often the hardest job, especially when you really need the $$$. In Salem, the local SCORE chapter, headed by a banker, formed a mini-loan committee that guides applicants from the business committee in preparing the proper applications and steers them through the local banks. Of five recently recommended loan applications, all were accepted by banks. The prime reason: the committee approved workable or realistic budget figures before the applications were turned over to the banks -- and evidently the latter agreed.
| One-Stop “Business Connection” Helped by SBA |
Phoenix, AZ -- The Arizona Business Connection is a one-stop center for small businesses. It was established by the Arizona Department of Commerce and two area SCORE chapters. A statewide toll-free telephone provides you with no-cost calling. Local SCORE chapters follow up call-ins with check-up calls and further counseling where this is desired. The SBA’s and Arizona’s outreach program to small businesses is a great inspiration for other areas and states to follow and enhances the government’s free services to the business community.
| SBA Deposits $450,000in Schnitzel Bank |
Shepherdstown, WV -- Running a successful restaurant is the dream of thousands of entrepreneurs. Love does indeed go through the stomach. However, a restaurant can also become an investor’s nightmare. The Bavarian Inn, run by experienced restaurateurs from Munich, Germany, Erwin and Carol Asam, is a shining exception of a dream come true. Local banks put together $750,000 to help the business expand, and the SBA, approached by the banks, added another $450,000 the following year. This infusion of capital enabled the inn to increase its volume from $600,000 to $1,000,000. Now sales are in excess of $3,000,000 and nearly a hundred people find employment here. Superior food and accommodations, backed by real expertise and financial security enabled this very tricky business to become an annual award winner.
| Hazardous Waste Companies Have Rosy Opportunities |
Miami, FL -- One of the nation’s pioneers in hazardous waste management, control, and disposal is Enviropact, Inc. They started with more foresight than experience and grew in importance and size until the SBA guaranteed a bank loan of $430,000 to expand the operation. The company paid it back in less than four years. Revenue originally was less than $3,000,000. It has since skyrocketed to more than $30,000,000 with a commensurate growth in employees. Opportunities in the environment are prolific. EPA, SBA, and virtually every government agency have financial aid programs for the alert entrepreneur in this field.
| Hispanic Firm Plays Winning Ball with SBA |
Morton, TX -- Ben Ansolabehere (he’s of Basque origin) runs a company called Great Western Meat Company. It employs about 300 people, mostly Mexican-Americans, and does around $40,000,000 in annual business. When Ben first started, he got a boost from the SBA with a $300,000 loan, supplemented since then with $500,000. The investment was worth it and loans have been repaid. Great Western now exports $36,000,000 of horse meat to France, sells equine organs to pharmaceutical companies for serum production, and the horse hides to baseball manufacturers. In fact, 40 percent of America’s baseballs are covered with leather produced in Morton, Texas. It’s been a win-win game for all sides.