Small Business, Big Plans. Your time is now.
EDC-VC has added the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to its menu of comprehensive business services. SBDC provides free advising and low-cost training sessions to small business owners in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Business Growth and Assistance
Keeping Businesses Going and Growing
As businesses evolve, so do their challenges and opportunities. The key is to overcome the challenges while capitalizing on the opportunities so a company can grow. SBDC guides businesses on the growth path through consultations and training sessions in the following areas:
EDC-VC’s SBDC services include:
• Business plans
• Capital sourcing
• Government contracting and procurement
• Financing/Loan packaging assistance
• Human resources
• Legal issues
• Start-up assistance
• Marketing/Sales
• International trade
• Managing a business
• Technology
• e-commerce/Social media
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Kelly Noble at Kelly.Noble@edc-vc.com or 805-384-1800 x21.
Business Turn-around Assistance
From struggling to striving
It’s hard to know what to do when a company is caught in a downward spiral. When companies are facing layoffs or are in crisis, SBDC offers immediate turnaround assistance through free, confidential consultations on topics ranging from counseling and debt reduction to finding the right legal structure for your venture. SBDC also provides referrals to business service centers.
The program is in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Kelly Noble at Kelly.Noble@edc-vc.com or 805-384-1800 x21.
Start-up Assistance
Opening the Door
Starting a business can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. SBDC offers a monthly free workshop to help people interested in starting a new business. Once entrepreneurs have their idea, SBDC can help with research and writing a business plan, to help a start-up thrive.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Kelly Noble at Kelly.Noble@edc-vc.com or 805-384-1800 x21.
Training and Workshops
SBDC offers a variety of low-cost workshops that cover a variety of business topics. For more information about SBDC’s workshops and to see the workshop calendar visit www.edcsbdc.org
SBDC of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties’ Export Initiative
In 2010, President Obama unveiled the National Export Initiative with the goal of doubling exports over the next five years to support 2 million jobs in America. To help area companies expand their business through export opportunities,
EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties launched its own Export Initiative in June 2011. It provides free one-on-one consulting with SBDC consultants who specialize in exporting, and training seminars for businesses interested in accessing export opportunities or expanding existing international exports. SBDC consultants can also help businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research grant funding process.
The Export Initiative is a partnership between the SBDC, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Postal Service, Santa Barbara City College and the U.S. District Export Council.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Technology administers the SBIR, which provides the small, high-tech, innovative businesses with grant funding as a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts.
For more information, contact Ray Bowman, SBDC director, at rbowman@edcsbdc.org or 805-384-1800 x23.
About the SBDC Network
The EDC-VC SBDC center enhances the already established Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network, which is hosted by Long Beach Community College District and operates eight centers throughout the Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
Any small business can take advantage of the free services that are offered by the SBDC centers in their area. The SBDC program is the SBA's most extensive economic development program which helps small businesses create jobs and strengthen local economies. The SBDC program is designed to match dollar-for-dollar every federal dollar that it receives with state, community or private funds. The Los Angeles Regional SBDC Network received $3.4 million in federal funds in 2009.
Since January 1, 2006, Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) has been the host for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network servicing the Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara communities. The SBDC program is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) most extensive economic development program, helping small businesses create jobs and strengthen local economies. LBCCD, as the Lead Center, holds the contract with the SBA and contracts with a diverse group of six educational and community development organizations to deliver services to small businesses. For more information, please visit www.smallbizla.org
