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27 Replies Last post: Feb 12, 2009 3:07 PM by SBOCTeam

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Event: Local resources to build your business

Mar 12, 2009 11:37 AM

sboc

SBOCTeam 328 posts since
Jul 27, 2007

Many small business owners don't know that they have help right in their backyard, literally.

Keith Hunt heads the Office of Business Development for the City of Boston. The Office of Business Development provides quality services and resources to entrepreneurs, business owners, and neighborhood business districts to help businesses expand, create jobs and play a vital role in local communities and the City's economy.

The Office helps business owners identify and coordinate a full range of business services, including help with business plans, marketing, and permitting, referrals to private and public sources of capital, design services, and commercial real estate development finance. For more information, please visit: http://www.cityofboston.gov/dnd/obd

Ask Keith questions like:

What business development resources can the city provide me?
What kind of support should I expect from my city?
Will the city continue to help me after I'm established?

Post your question for Keith here and then check back on February 12th at 2:00PM EST, or any time thereafter for his reply. You can post a question any time during the event hour. However, he may not have a chance to answer all of them.

Tags: best_technique, entrepreneur, home_based_business, networking, small_business, starting_a_business, tips, city_of_boston, keith_hunt, office_of_business_development, resources, neighborhood, economy, business_plans, marketing, permitting, referrals, tag_moderated, tag_moderated, design_services, real_estate, finance Report as inappropriate

Start-up

BavarianAuto 1 posts since
Jan 28, 2009

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1. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Jan 28, 2009 12:59 PM

Are there resources available for a "green" business (recycling focus)?

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Mogul

pdmiller 43 posts since
Feb 5, 2009

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2. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 5, 2009 8:38 PM

What type of marketing solutions are available through a city?

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Start-up

ADGinNH 2 posts since
Mar 9, 2008

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3. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 8, 2009 10:44 PM

Any business that has growth-job creation potential should check what services are available from economic development and/or small businesss counseling organizations in their town-region-state.

Your economic developer should be someone you know, and who knows you. Just don't expect free money, that doesn't happen at early stages; at later stages it only happens for places where the community needs to give away $ to get someone there-sound attractive? Usually not once the facts are known.

You do not need to know the "alphabet soup" of development acronyms, just find an economic developer in your community that does. Our ask here. And with economc stimulus funds coming - in a big way - with the new federal budget, the time is now.

Good hunting!

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Start-up

ADGinNH 2 posts since
Mar 9, 2008

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4. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 10, 2009 8:31 AM

in response to: pdmiller

Colleague:

It all depends on size of city and your needs. Some examples:

Cities-County-State may have web-sites where they will feature or link local businesses.
Also, they are always looking for interesting web content, so if you have a story to tell, they may host it
All states have a service funded by the Dept of Defense that - for free- allows you to establish an account to receive bid information from the federal government Procurement Technical Assistance Programs (or PTAPs) will guide you thru the processes. Note, it is a process, not a quick fix, but may provide long-term client base.
Also, some entities host "Buy Local" initiatives

Check their web-sites under Economic Development or Business Assitance. Hope that helps.

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Professional

StonesThrow 3 posts since
Feb 10, 2009

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5. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 10, 2009 9:57 AM

Related to BavarianAutos's question, is there preferential treatment for business that are trying to go "green?" Will they be moved to the front of the line in terms of receiving developmental resources? What does Boston do to promote green building?

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Mogul

caffeinated 176 posts since
Apr 29, 2008

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6. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 11, 2009 9:48 AM

Keith,

I have a business across the river in Cambridge, MA. I read about a program on the city of Boston's website called "Boston Buying Power." Can you share with me, and the rest of the Community, what that program is and how it will benefit small business owners? Do you know if other cities will be adopting similiar programs?

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Professional

StonesThrow 3 posts since
Feb 10, 2009

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7. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 11, 2009 10:07 AM

Keith, how do small business engage the city when bidding for development projects? How do I even find out if there are city projects to bid on?

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sboc

SBOCTeam 328 posts since
Jul 27, 2007

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8. Re: Live event: Working with the city to grow your business Feb 12, 2009 9:56 AM

Community,

To join this event, simply revisit this thread at 2PM EST today. Eventhough you're not located in Boston MA, he will be able to give you insight on similiar programs that may be in your area as well as how to properly engage municipalities when trying to grow your business.

Drop Keith a question now to ensure he has time to respond. Remember to refresh your browsers often to see the latest responses. We'll see you this afternoon!

The SBOC Team

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Authority

justobitome1 10 posts since
Feb 5, 2009

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9. Re: Live event: Working with the city to grow your business Feb 12, 2009 10:41 AM

in response to: SBOCTeam

What type of networking groups do you have? Our local chamber offers 1 night a month where you can come and network with other business owners? Do you feel sessions like this are beneficial? What should you take too or take from sessions like this? What should be the focus?

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Host

Vince 91 posts since
Aug 15, 2008

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10. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 12, 2009 12:37 PM

Keith, thanks for being here for the Community!

I took a look at the Office of Business Development's website and came across a great resource, "Small Business Resource Guide." It noted 3 tips business owners should know before starting, expanding or relocating their business:

Start early
Take steps inthe right order
Know the rules

Could you elaborate on those tips and why they are so important?

Vince

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Start-up

BrickandMortar 1 posts since
Feb 12, 2009

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11. Re: Live event: Working with the city to grow your business Feb 12, 2009 1:25 PM

Do I need special permits to hang a sign outside my store or place a sandwich board on the sidewalk? Can the city assist with other marketing efforts?

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sboc

SBOCTeam 328 posts since
Jul 27, 2007

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12. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 12, 2009 2:02 PM

Hello Community,

Please join me in welcoming Keith Hunt, Assistant Deputy to the Office of Business Development for the City of Boston. He will be posting as kh02127.

Keith, want to take it away?

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EXPERT

kh02127 11 posts since
Feb 4, 2009

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13. Re: Live event: Working with the city to grow your business Feb 12, 2009 2:03 PM

in response to: BrickandMortar

All signage is subject to City approval. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) administers the City's sign codes. The Office of Business Development can assist you in getting your signs approved. It is always important to get your sign approved before you have it fabricated. The Office of Business Developement offers a signage program, it is actually part of the ReStore Program. In general the first $2,500 of the cost of a sign can be reimbursed. You must apply to the program and recieve design approval before you order or put up the sign. There are currently funds available for this program. we can also help with the design of your sign.

As a general rule the City does not allow the placement of sandwich board signs on the sidewalk.

The City does offer some technical assistance through nonprofit providers on marketing efforts.

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EXPERT

kh02127 11 posts since
Feb 4, 2009

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14. Re: Event February 12: Local resources to build your business Feb 12, 2009 2:09 PM

in response to: BavarianAuto

The City of Boston has many resources available for business of all types. Some of the assistance is tied to the type of business and the business location. Some of the types of assistance are as follows:

Technical assistance to assist you when dealing with the City's planning and licensing agencies. Whether it is help with getting a building permit, defining a scope of work, obtaining a zoning variance to getting your business open we have programs for you.
The City of Boston has a façade and signage improvement program that will assist you in presenting a good public face to your business. The façade program is a matching grant program which provides up to $7,500 per "storefront" renovated (many business have more than one "storefront"). The program also allows for up to $2,500 to pay for new signage, there is no match required for this part of the program. All projects are subject to our design approval process.
We can assist you with the design of you building, signage or logo.
We can help you develop a business plan.
We can work to connect you with other sources of public and private funds.

So in conclusion, yes there are resources available for "green" business within the City.

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