College Offers Solutions for Small Businesses
Big business has been all over the news headlines of late. Here at Delaware County Community College, however, the focus is on small business.
The new Center is up and running as a resource for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Delaware and Chester Counties. Center director Frank Agovino, himself owner of a local catering and event planning business, oversees the Center’s day to day operations.
The Center's programs engage aspiring and existing small business owners in the region through workshops and seminars at various locations in Delaware and Chester Counties. Offerings include: Writing a Business Plan, Marketing Techniques, Technology for Small Businesses, and “Greening” of Small Businesses. Networking opportunities and an Entrepreneur Speaker Series are being planned.
“There are about 27,000 small businesses in Delaware and Chester counties,” Agovino said. “We can be a resource for them with networking opportunities, bringing in people in like situations, sharing ideas. We even anticipate some new businesses will get their start at the Center—there's a surge of start-ups in the area.”
Looking ahead, a computer lab, to be located in the new STEM Complex, will be available for business owners to test software applications prior to purchase, conduct research and be a part of an informal community of entrepreneurs.
“We plan on being flexible to respond to industry shifts. We're here to listen and create programs business owners really need,” Agovino said.
The Small Business Solutions Center is partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Small Business Solutions Center courses are open to the public. Call 610-359-5137 for information.