NECC/HUD Lawrence Business Assistance Center
Address: NECC/HUD Lawrence Business Assistance Center - 78 Amesbury Street - NECC Extension Campus - Laurence, MA 01840
Phone: 978-738-7631 Fax: 978-738-7125
The LBAC's mission is to help low and moderate income small and micro business owners gain the knowledge and skills necessary in order to develop and move into the business mainstream. The LBAC's focus is primarily on education. They offer:
Workshops, seminars, classes and training (ranging from one evening to 8 weeks in duration) designed to respond to the most pressing and widespread needs of small business owners. These include: English as a Second Language, QuickBooks, Preventure and Business Plan Writing, Intro to Computers and Microsoft Office, Business Technology, Building Renovation and Improvement, Course for Community Interpreters, and Accounting and Financial Projections.
One-on-one counseling and follow-up with individual business owners
Library resources and Internet access for potential and current entrepreneurs
Free Notary Services
Bilingual/Bicultural staff
Working Capital Lawrence
Contact: Judy Tejada, Loan Officer
Address: Working Capital Lawrence - 276 Essex Street - Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: 978-686-2072 X12 Fax:978-738-7125
Working Capital is a 10-year old national micro-lending program that provides loans ranging from $500 to $20,000 to micro entrepreneurs. Working Capital utilizes a peer group lending model (where groups, not individuals, receive loans, and the group has collective responsibility for payment), and trains members in the peer group and loan review process. Individual loans are also available to those who have been in business for over a year. Working Capital requires members to participate in at least one business training per quarter, and also provides help with preparing financial statements and business plans for loan applicants. Staff are bilingual and bicultural.
Salem State College
Address: Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - 352 Lafayette Street r - Salem, MA 01970-5353
Phone: 978-542-6305 or 978-441-1846
Small Business Development Center provides counseling, educational programs, technical assistance, and on-target information to the small business community. Ms. Irizarry serves Lawrence. Lowell and Salem and is available in Lawrence on Wednesdays and two Mondays per month for one-on-one appointments with clients. Ms. Irizarry is bilingual/bicultural, and specializes in helping clients create business plans. She is cooperating with the LBAC to offer a more in-depth business planning course for potential entrepreneurs.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Contact: Jim DiBona, Business Counselor
Address: Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce - 264 Essex Street - Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: 978-686-0900 or 978-749-9417 Fax: 978-749-9437
SCORE is a 30-year old national organization of retired business people who serve as counselors and mentors to entrepreneurs. While much of their current Lawrence client base is potential entrepreneurs, their services are more appropriate for existing business owners looking to grow or improve SCORE offers general business advice and trouble-shooting, as well as specialized help according to the expertise of available counselors. This can include accounting, legal, real estate, and marketing advice as well as industry-specific knowledge. SCORE counselors are available for more ongoing mentoring as well as single-session consultations. One Lawrence area SCORE counselor is bilingual in Spanish.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Address: Small Business Administration - 10 Causeway Street, Room 265 - Boston, MA 02222
Phone: 617-565-5588 Fax: 617-565-5598
The SBA is a federal agency that provides a wide array of support for small business growth and development, including many resources accessible through their website at http://www.sba.gov. The SBA is one of the primary partners in the Lawrence Small Business Center.
University of Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
Contact: Charles Warner, Procurement Specialist
Address: Procurement Technical Assistance Center - 276 Essex Street - Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: 978-686-2072 X17 Fax: 978-686-2182
PTAC offers assistance to small, minority-, and women-owned businesses that wish to secure government contracts for products or services. PTAC services include:
* Help in identifying government contract opportunities, including a bid matching service that lets potential contractors know when appropriate government opportunities arise
* Counseling in bid preparation and submission, and managing and performing on contracts
* Provision of information about specifications and standards
* Orientation to E-commerce methods
* Aid in developing quality control programs
* Development of targeted marketing plans
* Business process improvement
* Help accessing federal funds for research and development
Lawrence Community Development Department
Address: Lawrence Community Development Department - 147 Haverhill Street - Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone:978-620-3010 Fax: 978-794-5832
The Lawrence Community Development Department is intent on doing all it can to help existing businesses and to attract new businesses to Lawrence. Among many initiatives, the City of Lawrence assists businesses through its economic development assistance programs.
In addition, the CDD will help companies by facilitating introductions to other Federal, State, and local support agencies, by coordinating and facilitating permits, and by providing technical assistance in developing projects.
Other Useful Organizations
Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce: 978-686-0900
Lawrence Planning and Neighborhood Development Corporation: 978-685-3115
Association of Latino Merchants Asociación de Comerciantes Latino-Americanos: 978-681-0422
Consumer Credit and Debt Management counseling
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