NEW BRITAIN – July 10, 2008 –The Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is promoting and assisting small businesses of all kinds throughout the state. 

Bella’s Gourmet Store, which opened recently in Putnam, may well be the perfect example of how the agency is supposed to work.  Although she’s been in business for only a few weeks, owner Karen Snow is heartened by the reception her shop has been given in the Connecticut “quiet corner” town of 9,000 and deeply appreciative of the help she’s gotten from the SBDC.  She praised Henry Reed business development specialist from the SBDC office located at Eastern Connecticut State University.  Calling him “tremendously knowledgeable and genuinely interested in seeing his ‘clients’ succeed,” Ms. Snow said, with Reed’s help, her business plan garnered a favorable response from her bank.  “The banker who approved my loan told me it was one of the best business plans he’d ever seen.”

Originally planned as a gelato parlor, Snow’s business grew into a combination deli and gourmet food shop in order to offer customers a broader range of choices, thereby making success more likely.  And yes, the store does offer gelato, an Italian ice cream made with milk, sugar and a wide range of flavorings.    Bella’s also offers freshly made sandwiches featuring a variety of Italian deli meats as well as store-made salads and other food items which have become “an instant hit,” according to the proprietor.  Snow’s new venture will create three new jobs and will offer fine olive oils and other gourmet and specialty products aimed at the home cook.

SBDC’s counseling and technical assistance services are provided without charge and include everything from information on how to obtain the requisite state licenses to complete business planning.  “We guide our clients every step of the way,” said Ginne Rae Clay-Gilmore, SBDC state director, who called Snow’s experience typical.  “She came to us with some ideas and we were able to help her put together a pretty impressive plan for success.”

Ms. Clay-Gilmore indicated that the agency will continue to monitor Snow’s progress on a monthly basis and offer helpful suggestions to ensure that the she stays on track.  In the meantime, “she and others interested in starting or growing their business can call the SBDC any time to talk about growth strategies, problems they may have encountered or to discuss new ideas they might want to try.” 

In addition to providing individual counseling, SBDC also offers group training programs at various locations around the state.  Among the topics covered in SBDC.s training workshops are financial analysis, fundamentals of operating a business, loan packaging, marketing, management, as well as business plan development.

The SBDC executive office is located at CCSU’s Institute of Technology and Business Development in downtown New Britain, with satellite offices located on the University campuses of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS), thanks to a unique partnership between CCSU, the United States Small Business Administration, (SBA), the Department of Economic and Community Development, (DECD), and the private sector.  The SBDC is specifically designed to assist in the creation and growth of small business in the Nutmeg State. 

At the time the SBDC-CCSU partnership was announced Central President Jack Miller said:  “This will enable CCSU to augment its role as the premier developer of human potential in Connecticut. Partnering with the Small Business Administration, we will leverage our significant strength in providing real-world, career-focused education in a wide range of business, technology, and related fields to benefit our state’s small-business community.”

New business owners like Ms. Snow are now taking full advantage of those opportunities.

Anyone interested in the services of the SBDC can call 860-832-0650 or visit the website:  www.ccsu.edu/sbdc

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