State support for micro business programs likely to be halved: Joe Blakely went from earning $10 an hour as a nurse’s assistant to making $52,000 a year as a one-man window-cleaning, windshield fix-it shop and janitorial service. He’s made enough money over the last 15 years, he says, to support his family and even to buy a couple of rental properties. Blakely would be the first to tell you being self-employed isn’t easy – he works long hours– but he loves being his own boss, and his flexible schedule enables him to help take care of one of his children who has health problems.
“I have that flexibility to come and go as I please, so I can meet the needs of my family,” Blakely said one evening last week before he was scheduled to clean the Washington County Superior Court. “When you provide services, you have a solid income forever.” Blakely’s entre’ into entrepreneurship came from the Micro Business Development Program, a business startup training program designed for low-income Vermonters who want to launch a sole proprietorship or a business that employs several people. The program, which is offered through the five regional community action councils, has helped to establish 1,700 businesses statewide.
Blakely said the Central Vermont Community Action Council’s Micro Business Development Program helped him figure out how to organize his business records, develop a marketing plan and get started on the right foot with the tax man. In addition, the program helped him obtain $2,000 in loans for the ladders and other window-washing equipment he needed. The Micro Business Development Program is one of the economic development services partially funded by the state that is on the chopping block as part of the Challenges for Change government restructuring plan.
According to Jim White, who runs the Micro Business program at CVOEO. White characterized participants as “not strong in literacy.” The program counselors assess the skills of the clients and help them get the basic services they need – job training or Adult Basic Education – before they move ahead with business planning.“More than half of our clients are women,” White said. “Women still represent the vulnerable end of the population. “Virtually all of the clients we work with have no experience with a business, and they typically have a desperation to earn money,” White said. “What separates us from the Small Business Development Centers is, we don’t just hand them a business template and say come back to us. We offer very intensive one-on-one training.”
White said because the programs are “co-located” with the regional anti-poverty agencies, counselors can assess what a family needs to make a business successful. If warranted, the programs help to stabilize clients’ finances through fiscal management and credit counseling, and, if necessary, counselors refer them to the Three Squares (the food stamp program) and general assistance. “We’re plugged into resources, as well as the business knowhow,” White said.
“We are not a social services agency,” Quillen Blume said. “Our mission is business development. When you’re counseling a client, you may get into other issues. We stay focused on moving the business forward.” Blakely said he didn’t consider going to the local Small Business Development Center office because it was too intimidating. He prefers the community action program because he says he feels more at home there, and he continues to get help with issues that come up in his business. “I think it’s just more specialized resources for smaller businesses,” Blakely said.
“I have that flexibility to come and go as I please, so I can meet the needs of my family,” Blakely said one evening last week before he was scheduled to clean the Washington County Superior Court. “When you provide services, you have a solid income forever.” Blakely’s entre’ into entrepreneurship came from the Micro Business Development Program, a business startup training program designed for low-income Vermonters who want to launch a sole proprietorship or a business that employs several people. The program, which is offered through the five regional community action councils, has helped to establish 1,700 businesses statewide.
Blakely said the Central Vermont Community Action Council’s Micro Business Development Program helped him figure out how to organize his business records, develop a marketing plan and get started on the right foot with the tax man. In addition, the program helped him obtain $2,000 in loans for the ladders and other window-washing equipment he needed. The Micro Business Development Program is one of the economic development services partially funded by the state that is on the chopping block as part of the Challenges for Change government restructuring plan.
According to Jim White, who runs the Micro Business program at CVOEO. White characterized participants as “not strong in literacy.” The program counselors assess the skills of the clients and help them get the basic services they need – job training or Adult Basic Education – before they move ahead with business planning.“More than half of our clients are women,” White said. “Women still represent the vulnerable end of the population. “Virtually all of the clients we work with have no experience with a business, and they typically have a desperation to earn money,” White said. “What separates us from the Small Business Development Centers is, we don’t just hand them a business template and say come back to us. We offer very intensive one-on-one training.”
White said because the programs are “co-located” with the regional anti-poverty agencies, counselors can assess what a family needs to make a business successful. If warranted, the programs help to stabilize clients’ finances through fiscal management and credit counseling, and, if necessary, counselors refer them to the Three Squares (the food stamp program) and general assistance. “We’re plugged into resources, as well as the business knowhow,” White said.
“We are not a social services agency,” Quillen Blume said. “Our mission is business development. When you’re counseling a client, you may get into other issues. We stay focused on moving the business forward.” Blakely said he didn’t consider going to the local Small Business Development Center office because it was too intimidating. He prefers the community action program because he says he feels more at home there, and he continues to get help with issues that come up in his business. “I think it’s just more specialized resources for smaller businesses,” Blakely said.
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