Preservation of our local, small businesses is critical to preservation of place. Walmart doesn’t tug at your heartstrings when you think of your hometown, the local Mom & Pop store you went to for penny-candy does. Since it’s National Small Business Week this week, we’re offering a few of our “must use” small business resources in support of those awesome small businesses across the US that are helping up create and maintain our senses of place.
The US Small Business Administration – Support for Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America’s future, and to helping the United States compete in today’s global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
Their 2013 Resource Guide goes into detail on the programs and services they offer.
Seth Godin – Ground-breaking Marketing for Small Businesses
The entrepreneur of all entrepreneurs, Seth Godin is an American entrepreneur, author and public speaker. Godin’s premise is three-fold:
1. Business marketers no longer have the power to command the attention of anyone they choose, whenever they choose.
2. Consumers now have more power and marketers must show more respect; no spam, no deceit, keep promises, use “permission marketing” to provide only things that are “anticipated, personal, and relevant”.
3. Godin believes that the only way to spread the word about something is for that something to earn the buzz by being remarkable – he refers to this as a “purple cow”.
MSNBC’s “Your Business” – Online Resources for Small Businesses
MSNBC currently runs the only tv show dedicated to small business owners – the “Your Business” segment that runs on Sunday mornings at 7:30am. Hosted by JJ Ramberg, the show covers topics like, marketing, effective leadership, creating company culture, crowd-funding, managing social media, dealing with bad reviews, and much to much to cover in detail here.
The Your Business website also has a discussion forum that you can join for networking and discussion with other small business members.
HUD’s Small Business Resource Guide for Pennsylvania
NOTE: If you would like to see the resource listings for another, state – visit the website and click on “Go Back to the Main State and Local List” link towards the top.
| State Agencies | ||
| Small Business Resource Center Small Business Advocate Entrepreneur Assistance Office Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority Small Business First Division Women’s Business Development Minority Business Development Small Business First Division Enterprise Development ProgramDepartment of Community and Economic Development 374 Forum Building Harrisburg, PA 17120http://www.teampa.com |
(800) 280-3801 (717) 783-2525 (717) 783-8950 (717) 783-1108 (717) 783-5046 (717) 787-3339 (717) 787-9147 (717) 783-5046 (717) 783-8950 |
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| Small Business Administration | ||
| Harrisburg Branch Office 100 Chestnut Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
(717) 782-3840 Fax: (717) 782-4839 |
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| Philadelphia District Office 900 Market Street, 5th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
(215) 580-2722 Fax: (215) 580-2762 |
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| Pittsburgh District Office 100 Liberty Avenue Federal Building, Room 1128 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4004 |
(412) 395-6560 Fax: (412) 395-6562 |
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| Wilkes-Barre Branch Office 20 N. Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-3589 |
(717) 826-6497 Fax: (717) 826-6287 |
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| Small Business Development Centers | ||
| For Small Business Development Centers in the State of Pennsylvania, please visit the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Network at:http://www.pasbdc.org/ | ||
| SCORE Offices | ||
| ltoona SCORE Mr. Donald Wissinger, Chairperson 1212 12th Avenue Altoona, PA 16601 |
(814) 942-9054 | |
| Central Pennsylvania SCORE Mr. Bob Allen, Chairperson 200 Innovation Boulevard – Suite 242B State College, PA 16803 |
(814) 234-9415 | |
| Erie SCORE Mr. Larry Brown, Chairperson 120 West Ninth Street Erie, PA 16501 |
(814) 871-5650 | |
| Huntingdon Satellite Office Mr. Glen Stampfle, Chairperson Hunt Tower – 500 Allegheny Street Huntingdon, PA 16652 |
(814) 643-3126 | |
| McKeesport Satellite Office Ms. Donna Tollner, Office Manager 301 Fifth Avenue McKeesport, PA 15132 |
(412) 664-1219 | |
| Meadville Satellite Chapter Ms. Sara Vernier, Chairperson 628 Arch Street, Box A201 Meadville, PA 16335 |
(814) 337-5194 | |
| Mon Valley SCORE Mon Valley Business Development Center Mr. Herman Meade, Chairperson 435 Donner Avenue Monessen, PA 15062 |
(724) 684-4277 | |
| Pittsburgh SCORE Mr. Walt Becker, Chairperson Federal Building 1000 Liberty Avenue, Room 1314 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
(412) 395-6560 ext. 130 | |
| Uniontown SCORE Mr. Dan Radman, Chairperson 140 North Beeson Avenue Uniontown, PA 15401 |
(724) 437-4222 | |
| Westmoreland SCORE Saint Vincent College Mr. Ron McKenzie, Chairperson Placid Hall – 2nd Floor 300 Fraser Purchase Road Latrobe, PA 15650 |
(724) 539-7505 | |
| Minority Business Development Agency | ||
| MBDA District Office 600 Arch Street, Room 10128 Philadelphia, PA 19106 |
(215) 861-3598 Fax: (215) 861-3595 |
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| Minority Business Development Centers | ||
| Philadelphia Minority Business Development Center Mulberry Atrium Building 105 – 107 N. 22nd Street, 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
(215) 496-9100 Fax: (215) 496-0980 |
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| Minority/Women/Native American Development Centers | ||
| Allegheny West Civic Council, Inc. Women’s Business Enterprise Center Ms. Chloe Velazquez, Business Services Director 901 Western Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 |
(412) 321-5660 Fax: (412) 321-5673 E-mail: hunterfa@sgi.net |
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| Women’s Business Development Center Ms. Gerri Swift, President 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 1116 Philadelphia, PA 19107-4711 |
(215) 790-9232 Fax: (215) 790-9231 E-mail: wbdc@erols.com |
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| Opportunities with Public Housing Authorities (PHA) | ||
| See PHA contact information at:http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/index.cfm | ||
| Opportunities with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients | ||
| See CDBG contact information at:http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/contacts/ | ||