Lafayette and Louisville City Councils considered additional ways to support their many small businesses and decided last fall to enhance the hands-on assistance provided by the Boulder Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The communities held a series of meetings with the SBDC to develop a work program that will complement the existing efforts of both cities. The program will bring additional dedicated outreach and marketing activities, expanded one-on-one consulting services, and unique workshop events to the small businesses in Lafayette and Louisville.
The Boulder SBDC has a network of roughly 50 business consultants, bringing high-caliber experience on a diverse range of business specializations. Most consultants have been, or are, small business owners themselves and recognize the unique challenges of operating an enterprise. The SBDC team understands that the small business owner cannot afford a staff or private contractors with expertise on every business topic. Through confidential one-on-one consulting the SBDC bridges that gap. The SBDC will also design workshops specifically tailored for the Lafayette and Louisville business communities.
To reach the local small businessperson, who is often too busy to have the time to look for assistance, the SBDC will perform enhanced online and on-the-ground marketing efforts. Services also focus on entrepreneurs who are just starting a business. The SBDC has extensive resources and hands-on experience with business planning and can help the aspiring entrepreneur research the market, build an operational plan, seek financing, and launch.
The Boulder SBDC has been serving Boulder County since 1994, providing confidential business assistance at no cost to small businesses. The Boulder SBDC is a non-profit organization, partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT), the City of Boulder (Boulder SBDC’s host) and many others, now including the Cities of Lafayette and Louisville. The Boulder SBDC is part of a larger network that includes 15 SBDCs in the State of Colorado and hundreds in the United States.
Businesses can learn more about SBDC services at www.bouldersbdc.com. Consulting services can be scheduled by opening the consulting services button at the top of the home page and selecting “request an initial appointment.” Dan King will serve as the Lead Consultant for this program and can be reached directly at dan.king@bouldersbdc.com or 303.588.1762. Both communities will also be providing local space for businesses to meet directly with SBDC consultants.