Small Business Tools — Small Business

Tidbits of Small Biz Buzz in Connecticut

May 1, 2012 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

Connecticut Self Employment Initiative

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) has partnered with Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CSBDC) and piloted an initiative on entrepreneurship for persons in recovery (PIR) with self-stated goals of operating small businesses.

The Connecticut Self Employment Initiative was funded by a grant from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and enabled 35 men and women to receive intensive training and technical assistance from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CSBDC) on business start-up strategies. DMHAS’s network of 30 mental health supported employment providers were also trained to offer entrepreneurial coaching and support. Business plans of eleven participants were selected for mini-grant funding in such areas as lawn maintenance, catering, special education consulting, accounting and pedi-cab operation. [Read more...]

Connecticut Get Your Business Online Workshops Slated For Later This Month

March 12, 2012 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

Google to hold free events hosted by the Connecticut Small Business Development Center.

Connecticut Get Your Business Online is the fastest, easiest way to create an online presence for your business. Attend a free Get Your Business Online event and you’ll find everything you need to be successful, including individual help from web professionals. Hands on workshops for website building are first come, first serve. [Read more...]

Small Businesses Apply for New State Help

December 19, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

Help is on the way for small businesses in Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has been touring the state for the last several months to promote all of the various small business programs the state has initiated through the special legislative session held this past October. The Jobs Session produced legislation geared to helping small business grow and create jobs here in Connecticut.

Peter Lent, Assistant Executive Director at DECD gives an update on the Reinventing CT Workshops held to date.

The DECD Reinventing Connecticut Workshops have been well attended and have given hope to the Connecticut small business community. This excitement was clear when DECD’s commissioner, Catherine Smith, said in an AP press report last Friday that her office had received 95 applications for the state’s new small business assistance program and that she expects more will be filed. [Read more...]

Opportunities For Veterans To Become Entrepreneurs

November 11, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

In honor of Veterans Day, CBIA would like to say thanks to the brave men and women of all the armed services divisions who have made a sacrifice to defend our country and the lands of our allies. However, for many returning veterans, it has been tough to find employment even though a few of these individuals have managed and operated some of the most sophisticated machinery and equipment ever developed.

According to Entrepreneur.com in recent months, President Barack Obama has proposed a number of measures to ease the transition to civilian life, including tax credits for employers hiring veterans and programs for helping veterans become more competitive in the civilian workforce. The federal government also expanded the GI Bill program to include vocational training and other non-degree job-training programs for veterans.

For some returning service men and women, what the U.S. military has taught them in terms of communication and leadership skills can easily be transfered into becoming a small business entrepreneur and there are some incentives for returning vets who have a great idea and want to start their own businesses. [Read more...]

DECD to Hold Reinventing Connecticut Small Business Workshops

November 7, 2011 By Adam Ney 1 Comment

Last month’s special session on jobs resulted in a comprehensive set of pro-business measures being adopted that will help businesses—most notably small businesses—prosper and grow.

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) invites you to learn firsthand how this new legislation can positively affect your business by attending one of the meetings listed below. Additional dates, times and locations are being added, so be sure to check www.decd.org for updates. DECD will also be hosting webinars for those that cannot participate in person.

With $180 million in new funding specifically targeted to small business, these new initiatives are a key piece of the state’s strategy to accelerate its economic recovery and reinvent Connecticut. These sessions are a great opportunity to learn about the new programs aimed at assisting businesses and will also afford you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with economic development representatives to access fast-track assistance from the state. [Read more...]

Small Business Disaster Checklist

November 2, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

Since Monday morning and after the freak weekend snowstorm, CBIA has had a number of phone calls from member companies asking for advise on how to handle various matters related to employees, damage to their buildings and other disaster related questions. So by mid-day on Monday, CBIA’s Human Resources and Safety division posted a great article that is a disaster checklist for small business. If you are not sure about how to proceed with certain workplace matters related to disasters, you may want to read the Small Business Disaster Checklist article.

Gov. Malloy Announces Launch Of Startup Connecticut

October 6, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

Connecticut entrepreneurs got some good news this morning when Governor Dannel P. Malloy joined with business leaders to announce the launch of Startup Connecticut, a new initiative that will help to reinvent Connecticut by assisting high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the state. Startup Connecticut will be part of a national network of state and regional efforts coordinated by the Startup America Partnership, the national organization working to help young companies grow in order to create jobs in the country. Connecticut becomes the third state in the nation to adopt its own regional initiative.

“Connecticut has always had a reputation as the home to innovative companies, technologies and workers,” said Governor Malloy in a press release. “But in recent years, people have begun to wonder if Connecticut’s best days are behind it. Nothing could be further from the truth. In finding new and innovative ways to compete in a 21st century economy, we also have to find new ways to reinvent Connecticut. I believe we have yet to effectively harness our potential to create new companies, help those already here, and maximize the job creation potential of both. The launching of Startup Connecticut will give us a series of coordinated efforts to improve our track record now.” [Read more...]

Small Business Roundup

July 13, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

CBIA Member Celebrates 100th Year In Business

According to an article in the Norwalk Hour, Sclafani, which imports more than 350 products from across the world to Connecticut celebrated its 100th year of operation.

The business was created In 1920, by Gus Sclafani with the concept of an Italian food store. In 1938, after two other locations, he built a state-of-the-art warehouse with perimeter refrigeration on Glenbrook Road in Stamford.

The company, now based in Norwalk on Butler Street, is now run by Luciano Jr., who also goes by Lucian and Lou, with his three brothers — Gus, Bruce and Ron. They are the third generation in the business. Bruce now has sons in the business who represent the fourth generation. [Read more...]

Monday Morning Small Business Briefs

June 20, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

Here’s a round-up of recent small business news and activities here in Connecticut and beyond.

SBA Debuts Mobile App

This month, the U.S. Small Business Administration is debuting its first application for mobile devices to provide assistance to entrepreneurs on the go.

Palo Alto Software Inc. developed and donated the app to the SBA, with the initial version only operable on Apple’s iPhone with other platforms to follow.

Among other features, the app allows users to get video content and social media alerts, connect with SBA district office staff and counselors, and get answers to simple questions about starting a business, writing a business planor finding funding. [Read more...]

Pitney Bowes Launches Cloud-Based Email Marketing Solution for Small Business

May 2, 2011 By Adam Ney 1 Comment

Last week, CBIA member Pitney Bowes Inc. announced it had launched pbSmart Connections, a cloud-based email marketing solution that helps businesses more effectively create and deliver their message globally in today’s multi-channel world. The new offering expands the pbSmart Suite of on demand customer communications management (CCM) products delivering solutions that enable digital and physical communications in an easy-to-use format, accessible from anywhere and flexible to meet customer’s needs.

pbSmart Connections delivers a simple solution to small businesses with limited technical expertise and requires no download of software, which is critical for businesses on the go. The system is built to be scalable as small businesses grow, including a professional version for larger or more complex businesses. It has the ability to integrate online communication channels that have recently emerged and are rapidly gaining momentum. [Read more...]