Are You a Small Business?
See What Your Chamber Can Do For You

Jenni Jeffers
February 2008, Initiatives Review magazine

Bama Jammer Promotions, a former Small Business of the

The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County works aggressively to serve small business members. Because 80 percent of our members have less than 250 employees, we found it imperative to address the needs of small business members and small businesses throughout the community. To do so effectively, the Chamber’s Small Business Council created a county-wide coalition to bring different small business entities together to create a collaborative effort to assist budding entrepreneurs and existing small businesses.

Participating organizations include: BizTech, the Women’s Business Council of North Alabama, the UAHuntsville and Alabama A&M Small Business Development Center offices which all focus on the start up, nascent entrepreneurs which covers businesses in the infancy stage ranging from one to five years. The Chamber centers its assistance more to the established business needing assistance to enhance and market their organization.

After the first meeting of the county-wide coalition, it became clear that there was a need for a community-wide mentoring program. As a result, a community-wide mentoring (CWM) program is emerging to assist businesses in their first year through fifth year of operations.

“The community-wide mentoring program provides mentors to businesses who can provide advice and support to small businesses as they grow and prosper in our region’s vibrant and evolving business climate,” said Dick Reeves, president and CEO of BizTech. “When we help one business react to change in a positive manner, we insure that all businesses have a healthy climate to grow. The CWM is an opportunity for Huntsville’s business-fostering organizations to work together to support our small, growing businesses.”

Plan now for the 2008 Business EXPO: The Chamber’s 2007 Business Expo was the its most successful yet. Chamber member companies displayed their products and services to other members and to the public at the event, held at the Von Braun Center. Plans are already being made by Chamber staff members for the 2008 Business Expo.

Additionally, the group will provide resources that may not be known to inexperienced entrepreneurs. Such examples would be the 504 loan program offered to expanding small businesses needing money to buy, purchase or renovate a building. The loan is offered at a very low interest rate with special benefits and the 7(a) loan program that provides versatile tools for any non-profit and legitimate business purpose including working capital, real estate acquisition and business debt.

In addition, the Chamber is working hard to serve its members by offering a series of small business training classes beginning in February 2008.

Ron Klein, the Chamber’s 2007 vice chair for small business and the owner and president of Belzon said, “the Chamber’s effort to provide this type of training is an excellent way for members to take advantage of industry leading trainers.”

Training costs will be minimal and the seminars will last no longer than four hours. The latest information will be updated and posted on the Chamber web site and distributed via email.

For questions about the many small business services and programs available, contact the Chamber’s small business division at 256-535-2000 or visit the web site at www.huntsvillealabamausa.com.

Training Classes The Chamber will be offering a series of small business training classes beginning in February 2008. Classes will include: Doing Business with the Federal Government The Facts on the Department of Defense Mentor Protégé Program Marketing 101 Those interested in presenting a seminar during the series should review the requirements below and have information submitted to jjeffers@hsvchamber.org. Training Requirements • Must be a Chamber member in good standing; • Training seminars must be applicable to small businesses or be related to employee development; • Speaker will not receive any type of payment for services. The Chamber views this as an opportunity for the speaker to validate his/or her qualifications and knowledge; • Presentations must be substantive; this is not a platform for you to market your business; • A 1-2 page outline submitted on topic; and • Three letters of recommendation are required from past customers.