Cabinet Participates In Small Business Town Hall Meeting
On July 26, representatives from the Cabinet for Economic Development’s Small Business Services Division participated in a Kentucky Small Business Development Town Hall meeting organized by the Caldwell-Lyon Partnership. The event, held at the Area 2 State Fire and Rescue Training Center in Princeton, was designed to acquaint the small business community and its supporters with the services provided by the Cabinet and to provide an opportunity for small business owners to connect, one-on-one, with state government and others that could offer assistance.
John E. Cole III, director of the Cabinet’s Small Business Services Division, opened his presentation by discussing recent legislative tax changes affecting small businesses as well as the importance of entrepreneurial training and education to Kentucky’s school age children. Members of his staff spoke about the services provided by the Division’s three branches-the Kentucky Procurement Assistance Program, the Business Information Clearinghouse, and the Small and Minority Business Branch.
“We want small business owners across the state to know how much they are valued by the Commonwealth. After all, 93 percent of Kentucky’s establishments are small businesses. We want them to know that we are here to assist them and that we have programs that can help,” says Cole.
Caldwell Lyon Partnership CEO Jim Moore was very pleased with everything about the program saying, "The feedback we received initially was all very, very good. Some business owners commented that they were aware the information presented existed, but weren't aware of where to find it until attending this seminar. Now they have found things they will be able to use immediately to grow their business." He added that his office has already fielded several calls from attendees who are following up on new steps they've taken toward that end.
Other presenters at the event were Robert Coffey, lender relations specialist for the Kentucky district office of the Small Business Administration, Roy Keller, director of the Hopkinsville Small Business Development Center, Loretta Daniels, assistant director of Murray State University’s Innovation and Commercialization Center, and Craig Alstott, business development officer with Capital Access Corporation, an SBA approved 504 loan provider.
If your community is interested in having a representative of the Cabinet’s Small Business Services Division speak about programs and services available in your area, please contact the office at 800-626-2250.
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