By Patrick Adrian
Staff Writer
CLAREMONT — A number of microbusinesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Sullivan County will soon have access to valuable support resources, including entrepreneurial training, assistance, and office spaces, courtesy of a collaborative partnership of public and private organizations.
River Valley Community College is partnering with The Claremont MakerSpace, the City of Claremont, and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to launch Sullivan County’s first microenterprise development program, which will provide low- to moderate-income business owners or entrepreneurs with a range of educational and technical resources to launch or grow their microbusinesses.
A microbusiness is defined as any small business with five or fewer employees (including the owner).
River Valley Community College was recently awarded a $64,000 community development block grant (CBDG) from the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) to launch the program, which is scheduled to launch in September and will enroll up to 20 applicants, including existing microbusinesses and individuals looking to startup a microenterprise.
“This will be a wonderful opportunity to help people out with their existing businesses or startups through learning and having a network,” said Nancy Merrill, Claremont director of planning and economic development.
Most businesses, regionally and nationwide, fall into the microbusiness category. These enterprises can include producers of goods, like handmade clothing or jewelry makers, or services, like an accountant or a housecleaner.
Alison Chisolm, coordinator of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at River Valley Community College, said New Hampshire is focusing heavily at present on developing and supporting microenterprises because of their importance to the state’s economy.
“They can be a huge benefit to household incomes,” said Chisolm, explaining that many people with microbusinesses operate them outside of their regular full-time job as a secondary income.
The aim of the partnership’s program will be, in part, to assist people with a potential good or product who need to learn the aspects of running a successful business. The needed education or support might apply to developing a business plan, understanding grant or loan programs, or types of software. For an existing business, that need might be with rebranding or adding employees to the operation.
The regions surrounding Sullivan County, including Keene and Grafton County, already operate such microenterprise support programs. But there has been a proverbial “donut hole” in Sullivan County in regard to a microbusiness network, according to Chisolm.
“Our goal is to get everyone connected to the resources,” Chisolm said.
Through the Sullivan County program, participants will have access to the support and services for three years. These services will include hands-on instructional classes, one-or-one or network support and access to coworking office space. Coworking spaces will be available at the Claremont MakerSpace in Claremont and at the River Valley Community College campus in Lebanon.
There will be two programs offered, one for startup entrepreneurs and one for established microbusinesses.
The startup program will run between eight to 12 weeks and include hands-on instructional classes, access to a one-to-one advisor and coworking space.
Owners of established businesses will participate in the “Early Growth” program, Chisolm said. In this program the business owner will select classes specific to the owner’s needs, such as hiring an additional employee or expanding the business.
Importantly at this junction, the program shifts from the one-on-one advisor to a peer based model, Chisolm said. Business owners will meet in a cohort facilitated by Chisolm. Here the owners will learn to network and share their wisdom through experience to solve problems.
For example, a business owner with experience in adding employees can offer his or her guidance to another looking to add a hire, whereas the person looking to hire might have experience in leasing a retail space, Chisolm explained.
By extending the program length to three years, the partnership hopes to grow this program network to hold 50 to 60 participants at a time, with a new cohort of 20 entrepreneurs added each year, according to Chisolm.
River Valley Community College is reportedly the first New Hampshire community college to help launch a microenterprise development program, according to Chisolm.
“River Valley Community College is excited for an opportunity to have an impact in small business development,” Chisolm said. “We think of the college as an economic driver in the county and we want to do our part to help that economy thrive.”
Sullivan County government assisted the initiative by applying for the CDFA grant on River Valley Community College ’s behalf.
According to County Manager Derek Ferland, the project would be eligible for a larger grant award if the project scope expanded to the county-level.
“It’s another example of Sullivan County supporting ourarea and partnering with other agencies to move things forward,” Ferland told The Eagle Times. “Whenever we have a chance to do that, we are happy to get involved.”
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