The NJSBDC Center is also providing a host of other pro bono services
Ewing Township (Aug. 1) – If you’re a small business in Mercer County, you’re likely to get a knock on your door by someone with some of the most critical information you may ever need – how to deal with the next disaster. Due to a one-time SBA Sandy grant, centers within the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers statewide network, will further provide support for small businesses affected by this disaster.
The New Jersey Small Business Development Center at The College of New Jersey headed by LorraineAllen, the Regional Director, is spearheading this effort to discuss materials including a Disaster Readiness Plan of Action in the wake of Super Storm Sandy. The Plan of Action, which addresses multiple types of disasters, reduces the impact of business interruption, minimizes risk, protects employees, improves product services, develops strategies, brings businesses current with rules and regulations and builds a competitive advantage.
“The damage here wasn’t what it was along the shore,” Allen said. “But it has taken a toll and we want our business community to understand they have to be prepared for the next disaster. We’ve already reached more than 100 businesses in person just in our English speaking tour to explain our services and why they are so important.”
The door to door services are being provided in Ewing, Lawrence and Princeton in English and in Trenton and Hightstown in Spanish under a grant provided to assist businesses after Super Storm Sandy as well as with the cooperation with Mercer County.
The English speaking business door to door tours are being conducted by Don Addison, a Community Business Representatives for the center. Addison, who has already visited 107 businesses, introduces the program, explains the emergency preparedness brochure, leaves contact information and urges the businesses to use the services.
“It’s all about one-on-one, face-to-face connections,” he said during a recent tour. “We want to establish ourselves as part of the community, help businesses relate to what they need to know and then provide them the help. It’s wonderful that so many have responded positively.”
The businesses visited that day were receptive and anxious to get the help. A number of those previously contacted have contacted the center for assistance.
“This is great,” said John Reilly, manager of CafÔö£┬« 72 on Upper Ferry Road in Ewing. “I’ll definitely run this by the owners and I know they’ll be interested.”
Several established businesses, who have been assisted by the center in the past, said the door to door service is classic of Allen’s personal attention and commitment to the community.
The owner of Ewing’s Captain Dry Cleaner, Michael Waintraub, who has been working with the center for six years, listened intently to Addison’s presentation and said, “Lorraine has helped me on so many levels for so long and here’s another example.”
Waintraub who started as a wholesaler is now running a retail service and a pickup and delivery for offices, has contracts with Princeton Hotels and is the concierge cleaner for Capital Health Hospital.
“The center has helped me in so many ways -marketing, loans for equipment, all kinds of ways and I’ve been growing every year,” Waintraub said.
Because there are more than 230 manufacturing companies in Mercer County with 10 to 250 employees and sales from $1 million to $10 million, Allen, under a SBA/NJSBDC grant is also working with CEOs of those companies to participate in forums with their peers at the center, facilitated by an experienced moderator, with Business Growth experts on hand to listen and share their resources.
“The next step is talking to them about the storm recovery and looking ahead to prepare every way possible for the next disaster under the Sandy grant,” Allen said.
“We have a data base and in conjunction with the county, we are holding these meetings to discuss current challenges,” Allen explained. “I can’t thank the county enough for their role in this as well. This is what we need; groups working together toward the same goal.”
Businesses credit Allen for that new cooperative effort.
“When I first heard about NJSBDC, I thought it was just for start-ups,” said Debbie Schaeffer, CEO of Mrs.G’s TV and Appliances, Lawrenceville, a successful, high-end company established by her grandmother 79 years ago in September. “And then I got more information and they have been instrumental with establishing our business community with the county and have helped my business immeasurably through complicated applications and forms for certifications.”
“It’s all about relationship marketing and Lorraine understands that by going door to door,” Schaeffer said explaining how a privately owned company could withstand and surpass growth expectations with seven competitors including major retail chains all on the same street within one half mile because it is part of a national $14 Billion buying group and can keep prices competitive. “We’ve had generations of customers and we have father son-teams that work here and have for years.”
Allen also stressed the center will provide, one-on-one, pro-bono counseling to help businesses through not only the Ready Kit but also in Business Continuity, Risk Management, Media, Marketing, Human Resources, Legal, Accounting, Training and Strategic Needs Assessment. They also have an invaluable Business Continuity Ready Kit they can provide business owners.
The center has also offered a scholarship program for a course in Quick Books, valued at $295, for any small business impacted in any way financially by the storm through the Sandy grant.
“These business owners are so busy, sometimes they just don’t have time to think about these skills to improve their lives and services,” Addison said. “It’s wonderful to help a community I grew up in, as so many of us have.”
Contact Allen at Lorraine@sbdcnj.com or by calling 609-771-2947 for further information or assistance. THE NJSBDC has been assisting businesses statewide for more than three decades, with an expertise in diverse economic development and small business development issues and this year specially providing businesses affected by Super Storm Sandy and Nor-Easter Athena get the assistance they need to get their customers back, growing and flourishing.
About NJSBDC
The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers network provides comprehensive services and programs for small businesses in New Jersey, helping businesses expand their operations, manage their growth in New Jersey, helping businesses expand their operations, manage their growth, or start new ventures. Expert staff and practicing business consultants help small business owners and entrepreneurs to develop business plans, find financing, identify new markets, find procurement and international trade opportunities, commercialize technology and develop an E-commerce presence. This non-profit network is a federal-state-educational partnership, leveraging public and private funding sources to further maximize resources for the small business community. The network leverages funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey State Government, the educational institutions that host the 12 centers as well as other private sponsorships and grants. The NJSBDC Headquarters is located at the Rutgers Business School in Newark, NJ. NJSBDC is an accredited member of the National Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC). More than 1,000 centers and satellite offices serve small businesses across the country. Visit www.njsbdc.com.
