A goal of Clayton's Downtown Development Association (DDA) is to help strengthen and expand existing downtown businesses. One of the best resources available for small businesses is the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), but the closest chapter is in Raleigh. In recent weeks, representatives from the DDA have met with Raleigh SCORE board members to learn how to develop a chapter in Clayton.
The first step, according to DDA Chair, Ed Knight, is to find potential business counselors or mentors. “The ideal candidates are successful business professionals, retired or currently working, who are willing to volunteer their time to mentor small business owners,” said Mr. Knight. He added, “Once we’ve identified a dozen or so potential counselors, we’ll schedule an introductory presentation with representatives from the Raleigh SCORE chapter and go from there.”
Leslie Hubbard, Vice-Chair of the DDA’s Economic Restructuring Committee said, “A SCORE chapter in Clayton will benefit not just downtown businesses, but business owners and potential business owners throughout Johnston County.”
SCORE is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of small business start-ups, existing business growth and education nationwide and is a resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Nationally, SCORE has over 400 chapters and more than 10,000 volunteers who provide free counseling and low cost workshops to new and existing small businesses. Both working and retired executives, with small business and corporate backgrounds volunteer their time and expertise as counselors.
If you share a belief that small business owners are more likely to succeed if they have a mentor to guide them and would like to learn more about volunteering with SCORE, please contact Bruce Naegelen, Downtown Development Coordinator at (919) 553-1545 or bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org. Also, visit the Raleigh SCORE at www.raleighscore.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment