Business Specialist Outlines Services to Maple Grove Civics Club
 Dawn Broadwell was the guest speaker for the Maple Grove Civic Club's meeting on Sunday. |
That's where Dawn Broadwell from the Franklin County Community Development Corp. can help. Broadwell is a business development specialist who helps turn an idea into not only a business, but a viable one.
"We do business counseling with any type of business," Broadwell told the Maple Grove Civic Club on Sunday afternoon.
She said most businesses "get stuck" in the infancy. The CDC can help iron out details, get funding and connect with similar companies.
"We work with small businesses that are looking to get start and small businesses looking to expand and grow. We do that through helping them develop business plans and marketing plans to get them bank ready," she said.
Beyond that, the organization can provide the "gap funding" to start the business if a bank requires a down payment. And it operates a commercial kitchen in Greenfield that gives those looking to start food-based businesses an approved kitchen for production. The kitchen has been used by Berkshire-based businesses like Shire City Fire Cider and Tortured Orchard sauces.
"I feel like CDCs really help seed the market with small businesses," Broadwell said, adding that the best time to come to the organization is when it is still an idea.
Working with the person looking to start a business, Broadwell or someone else in the organization will help do the market research and planning. The group will take the dream business and give it what it needs to become a realistic one.
 The Maple Grove Civic Club has guest speakers at its meetings to discuss civic issues and those of interest to members. |
Thanks to a federal grant the Franklin County CDC now has a presence in Northern Berkshire.
After Tropical Storm Irene washed out parts of Route 2, the U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded funds to expand the CDC's services westward along the Mohawk Trail corridor. The CDC holds monthly information sessions in North Adams and maintains an office on Main Street in conjunction with the city's office of tourism and the North Adams Chamber of Commerce.
The organization doesn't just disappear after the bank approves the loan and a lease is signed. The CDC will be available for clients to help with figuring out how to handle unforeseen situations.
Broadwell says a lot of times new business owners try to bring their problems to banks for advice. But, the banks don't have the same expertise and knowledge of resources that the CDC has.
Selectman Joe Nowak said he's seen many businesses open up shop in town but not last. Adams needs to help grow businesses and part of that is giving the prospective new owners an understanding of the market so they are providing the right services to stay open.
"I don't think people do enough research," Nowak said.
The Maple Grove Civic Club meets every third Sunday at 3 p.m. at the PNA through fall and winter. Membership is open to those in Adams and its surrounding communities.
Tags: business development, Franklin CDC, Maple Grove Civic Club, small business,
