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Small Business Connections August 2010 |
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Welcome to Small Business Connections!
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Waubonsee Community College is here to serve your small business needs. We offer free business counseling to entrepreneurs and business owners, as well as a variety of small business workshops.
Call us today at (630) 906-4143 to learn how we can help you start or grow your business. |
| Small Business Spotlight |
Preservation Bread & Wine
 Preservation Bread & Wine in Geneva, Illinois, is the culmination of years of planning by Lawrence and Rebecca Colburn. Lawrence was a professional artist in Germany. After coming to Chicago in 2005, he completed his third level certification through the International Sommelier Guild and worked as restaurant manager and sommelier at one sixty blue in Chicago. Rebecca Colburn attended French pastry school in Chicago, and was bakery manager at Blue Sky Bakery in Albany Park.
The Colburns had been traveling to Geneva on day trips with their kids, and loved the European feel of the town. When they walked in to 513 S. Third Street, they knew it was the place for their business. The name, Preservation Bread & Wine, is central to their business concept. The main goal for the café and wine bar is to preserve traditional preparation methods and use real, seasonal, fresh ingredients as the focus of the menu. Bread is incorporated in almost every item on the menu.
"The SBDC has been an integral part of the planning and execution of the financial and background planning for our business," states Rebecca. "We knew what we wanted to do, but the information, spreadsheets and advice we received really helped put the numbers into perspective. The assistance with the business plan was immeasurable."
Preservation Bread & Wine opened in June 2010, and is already seeing a tremendous response from the community. Lawrence's art adorns the walls, complementing the décor and the menu. Visit the Web site for pictures and a menu, or sample the fare at 513 S. Third Street, Geneva, Illinois. |
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IL SBDC News and Events | | |
The Entrepreneurship Connection: From Concept to Cash
 Whether you are an entrepreneur or are a supporter of local entrepreneurship, come to The Entrepreneurship Connection to hear an engaging speaker and participate in discussion groups on how we can support and encourage entrepreneurial ventures in the Fox Valley region.
This month's topic will be From Concept to Cash. Entrepreneurship starts with an idea and a dream of turning that idea into cash. We'll be talking about how to take your venture from Concept to Cash. Join us for insights and networking.
Featured speakers: Gerald Jackson and Joe Zlotnicki (Green Light Industries)
Tuesday, August 24
8 - 11 a.m.
Waubonsee Community College, Aurora campus
Room 133
Cost: $10 (includes breakfast)
Advance registration is required.
For more information, view the flier, or contact the Illinois SBDC at (630) 906-4143. |
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Biz Buzz | |
Making Space for Entrepreneurs |
The SBA's Illinois small business profile identifies 258,555 small employers and 885,589 non-employers at last report (2006-2007).
With credit remaining tight, and budgets trimmed to weather the recession, small business owners and landlords are getting increasingly creative in crafting affordable space options for entrepreneurs.
In Batavia, Britta McKenna, Executive Director of Batavia Main Street, worked with the owner of 201 Houston Street to create "Project Mosaic," a suite of 12 offices with a shared conference room and a common break/louge area. Tenants work out the usage policy for the conference room and break room maintenance responsibilities. The "all-in" monthly lease included wi-fi and utilities. Tenants are encouraged to conserve energy, and are rewarded with a rebate if they come in under their alloted utility budget.
The goal of Project Mosaic is to provide a home to complementary businesses who don't compete and who can be a possible resource to each other. Project Mosaic already has five tenants in residence.
In Geneva, Jane and Bill Briner, owners of Persimmon Tree on Third Street, are making space for new/small retailers. With Bill now teaching, and Jane branching into retail consulting, they wanted to scale back their store, but not close entirely. They will be changing the name to Shoppe's @127 and leasing portions of their space to small retailers. The combination of open space and no walls create a marketplace atmosphere. Vendors can define their space with color, décor and signage. Jane and Bill will continue to "mind the store," allowing vendors to take vacations and spend time with family -- a benefit not typically available to single owner/non-employer retailers. Vendors need only take care of displays, stocking and cleaning for their space.
Tenants pay a fee for credit card processing and packaging material (bags, tissue, boxes, etc.) at Shoppe's @127's central cash register, and enter their inventory in the common POS system. Each vendor also gets Third Street window display space. But the best fringe benefit, especially for new retailers, is access to the Briners' 34 years of retailing experience.
These are two examples of many creative spaces popping up for entrepreneurs. For more information about these projects, contact:
Britta McKenna
Batavia Main Street
(630) 761-3528
Jane Briner
Persimmon Tree
(630) 232-6446
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Biz Bits |
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SBA Disaster Assistance | |
Governor Pat Quinn announced on July 6 that the state's request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration has been granted for several counties in North Central Illinois that were hit by tornadoes on June 5, 2010. The declaration will make low-interest loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses in the primary counties of LaSalle, Livingston and Peoria, as well as 15 contiguous counties, including Kankakee, Putnam, Bureau, DeKalb, Ford, Fulton, Grundy, Kendall, Knox, Lee, Marshall, McLean, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford.
The declaration is for business physical and economical injury, and for homeowners. As of today, FEMA is not involved in this disaster. Applicants may call or email the SBA Customer Service Center to start the loan process, ask questions, and to check on the status of their application.
For SBA disaster declarations: Applicants should contact the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 to request an application. The SBA Customer Service Center can also be contacted via email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
You can also find information about business and homeowner disaster programs on the Web site. |
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| Get Smart: Small Business Workshops at Waubonsee | Starting Your Business in Illinois
Tuesday, August 17, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Sugar Grove)
Wednesday, Oct. 13, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)
Marketing for Small Business
Tuesday, Oct. 19, 6 - 9 p.m., $30 (Aurora)
Small Business Tax Basics Workshop
Thursday, Oct. 28, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., $30 (Aurora) |
Is Franchising Right for You?
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., $30 (Aurora)
Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law
Thursday, Oct. 7, 6 - 8 p.m., $30 (Aurora)
Check seminar details for class descriptions, locations, ticket numbers, prices and registration information, or call the Illinois SBDC office at (630) 906-4143.
QuickBooks and Excel
A variety of QuickBooks and Excel classes are available to meet your small business accounting needs. Click here for complete class descriptions, locations, dates, times and costs. |
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| Illinois SBDC at Waubonsee Community College
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA or DCEO.
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