2010 Semi-Annual Performance Report. January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010

Transcription

1 2010 Semi-Annual Performance Report January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010

2 NEVADA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER 2009 Annual Performance Report This reflects activities of the Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC) from January 1, 2010 through June 30, ADVOCACY: Served on numerous boards and committees, as well as attended events, trade shows, and meetings throughout Nevada to promote NSBDC, SBA, and small business resources. Partnered with SCORE throughout the state to counsel NSBDC and SCORE clients on topics related to business start-up. In Carson Valley, held workshops at NNDA targeting existing businesses, alternating between starting a business and how to improve your business. Continued to organize a monthly business training program for the Sparks Chamber of Commerce, called BizFlash, and helped market that event. Began planning and coordinating a monthly business training program for the City of Reno, Brown Bag Business Hour, which started April The City of Reno and Reno-Sparks Chamber are our primary co-sponsors. BEP organized a Home Energy Retrofit Forum on May 3 rd in Reno. The morning session provided information on home energy retrofits, certifications, professional training programs, financial incentives, financing, and potential regulatory and market drivers. This was followed by a facilitated afternoon discussion group of invited builders, contractors, government representatives, NGOs, utilities, educators, and industry associations. The objective was to increase understanding of the market and market development and gain common agreement on how to work together to move the market forward. Ultimately, building energy retrofits are an opportunity to stimulate the Nevada construction industry and replace some of the 82,000 construction jobs lost in Nevada over the past four years. The forum was instrumental in the State Energy Office s decision to proceed with development and submittal of a proposal to Department of Energy (DOE) to develop the home energy retrofit market in Nevada. With the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, planned a seminar series to assist existing small businesses. The topic areas covered included financial statement review, social media and marketing. Worked with David Leonard to host a small business resource seminar on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, a successful effort to unite both Nevada and California resources for the small business owners. We had a sizeable attendance both on the resource side and the small business side. Continued to write a monthly column, Mind Your Own Business, for the Elko Daily Free Press. Some recent column topics include: benefits of a sole proprietorship, franchising, how to incorporate. Partnered with the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and introduced NSBDC s BizFlash, to provide an ongoing quarterly program. Authored a chapter in a newly published Incredible Business book called Developing Strategic Alliances. 1

3 Submitted business and economic articles to the Reno Gazette Journal as part of an ongoing series on Wednesdays from the UNR College of Business. Launched a blog website focusing on rural Nevada issues, NxLeveL education, chamber of commerce business, Campus Kids, and general business education. Started discussion with Carson City Redevelopment to create a one-stop shop for business development. Co-hosted with Bret Simmons and UNR Extended Studies Social Media panel/presentations for the business community in January, March, and April NSBDC Business Environmental Program (BEP) staff continued to meet with local, State, and federal environmental agency representatives to identify and address the needs of businesses in Nevada. BEP began to organize, plan, and host the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN) Conference that will be held in Fall Representatives from local, state and federal government programs, and private industry will participate in the conference. The conference is designed to facilitate delivery of environmental assistance information to small businesses by public sector programs throughout AZ, CA, HI and NV. Assisted as an Education Partner for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Education Division. Presented NSBDC services and business information to NxLeveL course entrepreneurs. Also assisted NxLeveL instructors find business expert guest speakers for their classes. Continued to improve the NSBDC website with resource information, as well as worked on a new UNR outreach umbrella, called the Business Services Group, that will better assist clients and economic development partners. Staffed numerous trade booths at various events statewide, to promote NSBDC and other program and partner resources. Created a web site and blog class for small businesses. Partnered with Career Connections Center, WorkForce CONNECTIONS and Great Basin College for workforce development and job placement services. Provided SBA, NSBDC and RNDC resource information to attendees at the annual Pahrump Biz Expo. Conducted small business forums, with resource partners including SBA, Rural Nevada Development Corporation (RNDC) and Nevada MicroEnterprise Initiative (NMI), in Mesquite and Pahrump. Met monthly with rural NSBDC counselors and representatives to discuss initiatives, issues and ideas. Primary Funding Partners ($100,000 or more/year) U.S. Small Business Administration 2

4 University of Nevada, Reno U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Nevada Department of Taxation University of Nevada, Las Vegas Nevada Commission on Economic Development (Community Development Block Grant) Contributing Partners (=>$25,000/year): AT&T Citibank City of Reno Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Humboldt Development Authority Nevada Commission on Economic Development NVEnergy Rural Nevada Development Corporation Wells Fargo Host Institutions (full-time hosts of NSBDC services) Carson Valley Chamber of NVEnergy Commerce and Visitors Authority Rural Nevada Development Churchill Economic Development Corporation Authority University of Nevada Las Vegas City of Winnemucca University of Nevada Reno Great Basin College Assistance Network Partners (networking and technical assistance partners) American Business Women City of Henderson Neighborhood Association Services Asian Chamber of Commerce City of Henderson Economic Associated General Contractors Development Association of Small Business City of Henderson Redevelopment Development Centers (ASBDC) City of Las Vegas Austin Chamber of Commerce City of Las Vegas Business Battle Mountain Chamber of Retention Council Commerce City of North Las Vegas Beatty Development Corporation City of North Las Vegas Economic Boulder City Chamber of Development Commerce City of Reno Boys and Girls Club of Northern City of Sparks Nevada Clark County Business Builders Association of Northern Development Advisory Council Nevada Clark County School District Builders Association of Western College of Southern Nevada Nevada Community Services Agency of Business Council of Douglas Northern Nevada County Dayton Chamber of Commerce Caliente Chamber of Commerce Desert Research Institute Carson City Diversity in Construction Charles Schwab Employment (DICE) Churchill ARC Douglas County City of Elko e-women s Network 3

5 Economic Development Authority for Esmeralda/Nye Counties Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County Elko County Economic Diversification Authority Eureka County Economic Development Program Fallon Area Chamber of Commerce Great Basin Development Association Henderson Business Action Committee Henderson Chamber of Commerce Henderson Convention and Visitors Authority Henderson Economic Development Resource Partners Henderson Resource Center Hispanic Business Network Humboldt County Humboldt Chamber of Commerce Humboldt Development Authority Incline Village Chamber of Commerce Japan America Society Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce Las Vegas Business Network Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Las Vegas Water District Latin Chamber of Commerce Lincoln County Regional Economic Development Authority Lyon County Lyon County Economic Development Authority Nevada Industry Excellence (formerly) Management Assistance Partnership (MAP) Mesquite Chamber of Commerce MGM Mirage Community Advisory Council MIBN (Moms in Business Network) Minority Business Enterprise Coalition Mineral County Economic Development Authority Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Enterprise Coalition National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Nevada Alliance Group Nevada Association of Economic Developers Nevada Association of Employers Nevada Association of Purchasing Management Suppliers Nevada Business Connections Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (NCET) Nevada Commission on Economic Development (NCED) Nevada Commission on Tourism National Contract Management Association Nevada Cooperative Extension Nevada Department of Business and Industry Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Nevada Department of Veterans Affairs Nevada Development Authority Nevada Economic Development Association Nevada Energy Team Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization Nevada JobConnect Nevada Manufacturers Association Nevada MicroEnterprise Initiative 4

6 Nevada Minority Business Council Nevada Procurement Outreach Program Nevada Rural Development Council Nevada Rural Housing Authority Nevada State Bank Nevada State Development Corp. Nevada Women s Business Resource and Assistance Center NevadaWorks New Ventures Certified Development Corporation North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Northern Nevada Business Weekly Northern Nevada Development Authority NxLeveL Foundation Nye Development Corporation Opportunity Village, Las Vegas Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce Pahrump Valley Community Action Team Paiute Shoshone Tribe Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Development Advisory Council Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Sierra Angels Signage Foundation for Communication Excellence, Inc. Southern Nevada Center for Independent Living Southern Nevada Certified Development Corporation Southern Nevada International Business Council Sparks Chamber of Commerce Stewart Title Sustainable Building Industry Council Tahoe Douglas Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Authority Technology Business Association of Nevada Tonopah Development Corporation Toyota Financial Services UNR Cooperative Extension U.S. Bancorp Foundation U.S. Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Contract Management Agency U.S. Department of Commerce, Las Vegas ITA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development U.S. Forest Service U.S. Internal Revenue Service Education Division USAA Savings Bank University of Phoenix, Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce Urban League Advisory Committee Valley Center Opportunity Zone, Community Development Corp. Vegas Young Professionals Veterans Business Outreach Center Wal-Mart Washoe County Wells Fargo Foundation Western Nevada College Western Nevada Development District Western Rural Development Center Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network White Pine Chamber of Commerce White Pine County Economic Diversification Council Winnemucca Visitors and Convention Authority 5

7 CAPITAL FORMATION: Assisted clients in acquiring capital through traditional bank financing, increasing sales, and securing SBA guaranteed loans and private sector financing and contracts. Receipt commitment from US Bank for $2,000 to teach Financial Management for Small Business, a 16-hour class to help businesses understand financial management and cash flow. This class will be marketed to bankers for their existing small business clients, as well as be partly sponsored by local banks. Through Borrego Springs Bank, provided proposal technical assistance for clients applying for micro loans. BEP presented information on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs during the May 3 Home Energy Retrofit Forum, the Reno Green Summit (June 17) and a meeting with Reno and Washoe County representatives and officials on June 11. PACE provides for financing of residential and commercial building energy retrofits through a loan repaid via property tax assessments. BEP also supported development of PACE as a component of the State market development proposal to DOE. Worked with Nevada MicroEnterprise Initiative (NMI), to increase access to capital for low income clients. Partnered with the Rural Nevada Development Corporation (RNDC) to assist in promoting business lending products. Also, several NSBDC counselors served on the RNDC Board of Directors. Provided ongoing work and relationship building with private investors, venture capitalists, the Nevada Development Authority, private bankers, CPAs and other private sector funding sources. Initiated and facilitated communication with Reno Redevelopment to change the management of the Reno Redevelopment loan fund to the Nevada MicroEnterprise Initiative. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Assisted clients in applying new and innovative technologies. Completed two semesters of the new program between NSBDC, the College of Business and the UNR Technology Transfer Office, utilizing Chris Howard as the designated faculty person and with two half-time (20 hours per week) MBA students (paid interns) assisting the Technology Transfer Office with assessments relative to the commercialization of new technologies. Program was very successful, but federal funding only goes through September. Worked with the U.S. Forestry Service on the development of businesses in Southern Nevada that will utilize Biomass in the production of energy and products. Through a grant from EPSCoR, 6

8 o o o o Presented seminars in Reno and Las Vegas to promote and describe SBIR/STTR funding opportunities to businesses. Provided counseling assistance to various potential SBIR clients in diverse stages of development. Continued to work with clients having innovative ideas needing further development. Coordinated with student interns to find matching proposal requests to match their technology. BEP provided client support in areas of wind, solar-thermal and photovoltaic systems, and basic to advanced energy efficiency, providing telephone, and individual assistance to business owners, property managers, and contractors interested in and involved with energy efficiency and alternative energy implementation and presented monthly workshops focused on energy efficiency for business. BEP provided phone and onsite assistance with environmental management and multimedia pollution prevention and training seminars in January on Completing the RCRA Hazardous Waste Biennial Report and in May/June on Automotive Repair & Fleet Management: Greening Operations and Environmental Management. BEP provided technical assistance for development of woody biomass utilization in Nevada and coordinated and convened the Nevada Woody Biomass Working Group. BEP continued to administer the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN) with grant funding from EPA. The fall WSPPN Conference is scheduled for October 27-28, 2010 in San Diego. Spring Advisory Board Meeting was held April 26-27, 2010 at Best Western Hacienda Hotel in Old Town San Diego. The sessions for WSPPN 2010 were selected and session leads determined. BEP worked with a wide variety of clients to identify local key implementable business opportunities in energy efficiency, providing telephone, and individual assistance to business owners, property managers, and contractors interested in and involved with energy efficiency implementation. BEP developed, refined and presented materials at workshops focused on energy efficiency for business. INTERNATIONAL TRADE: Partnered with the U.S. District Export Council to host Exporting 301 in Las Vegas and video-broadcast to Reno for businesses interested in tapping international markets. Assisted small businesses interested in entering the global marketplace through working relationships with the following organizations: o U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Assistance Office o U. S. District Export Council o State of Nevada Commission on Economic Development International Office o Foreign Trade Zone o Asian Chamber of Commerce o Japan America Society o Latin Chamber of Commerce o UNLV College of Business Graduate College 7

9 o U.S. Small Business Administration Served on U.S. Department of Commerce Import/Export Committee (per appointment by the Secretary of Commerce). Provided services to business clients that have products/ services marketed internationally. MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, NSBDC s Hispanic Business and Demographic Initiative, Imagine 2012, promoted the development of Hispanic entrepreneurial activities statewide. The service creates and develops opportunities to better interact and meet the needs of the Hispanic community; supports scholarly research in all business disciplines to gain and disseminate knowledge of Hispanic businesses, workforce, and the Nevada population; and identifies opportunities to secure resources for NSBDC s Hispanic Initiative. The advisory board, which includes Hispanic business leaders, continued to meet monthly and has over 20 active and participating board members. Taught our first Las Vegas NxLeveL course in Spanish, in partnership with the Latin Chamber of Commerce. The NSBDC was the first to begin using the new NxLeveL Spanish materials. Thirty of 32 graduated. BEP s Wood Utilization Specialist was instrumental in assisting the Moapan Paiute band get two grants; one, for $50,000 from USFS ARRA and, another from USDA RBEG for $94,000 for a grinder for their biomass recovery facility north of Las Vegas. Participated in numerous weekly radio talk shows (most in Spanish) to provide information on education and training, NSBDC services, and managing a business through challenging times. Provided The Business Education Series, a six week course designed to provide training and knowledge to existing business owners who are referred to the Las Vegas NSBDC by the Minority Business Enterprise Coalition Members. Training includes topics such as: Strategic Planning, Financial Analysis, Marketing, DBE Certification and more. Upon completion of the training, clients who have participated are entitled to a grant for the purpose of securing MBE certification. Twelve graduated during this period. Provided assistance to clients seeking SBA, DOT, or WBE certifications. In 2010 so far, counseled 19 clients seeking certification and granted 38 DBE accreditations through the MGM Mirage Supplier Diversity Program. Through a grant from Wells Fargo Bank and AT&T and in partnership with the Hispanic Business Network, provided bilingual counseling sessions to Spanish-speaking clients to Northern Nevada Hispanic businesses. Partnered with the Hispanic Business Network/Sparks Chamber of Commerce, to serve the Hispanic business community, presented in Spanish, to increase awareness and attendance by the Hispanic business community and promote Hispanic services. Average attendance for the monthly events was Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs. Served as a committee Member for the Minority Business Enterprise Coalition in Southern Nevada, whose purpose is to facilitate business opportunities and market share growth for 8

10 minority business enterprises (MBE) through the interaction of corporate members and advocate organizations. The coalition strives to be an organization providing best-in-class advocacy, education and training for MBE growth and development, along with promoting equal access to procurement opportunities throughout Southern Nevada. Served on the Regional Business Development Advisory Council (RBDAC), Contract & Procurement Database as a committee member Continued to provide assistance to existing and prospective minority business owners. Racial and ethnic minorities comprised 54% of Southern Nevada s client portfolio during this period. Staff members regularly field inquiries about certification options for minorities, women, veterans and disabled persons and provide assistance with SBA 8(a) and SDB applications as well as US DOT and other private organization certifications. In addition, the NSBDC continues to facilitate the DBE Accreditation program for MGM Mirage in support of their supplier diversity efforts. Continued to work with Rural Nevada Development Corporation to provide business assistance to Native American Tribes. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT: A proposal for Phase II Walker Basin project (our component relates to economic development) was modified to meet the requests of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which will be receiving and administering the federal funding for the Phase II projects. Project should be authorized to begin sometime around July Submitted Nevada s proposal for the FAST (Federal and State Technology) Partnership Program (proposal pending). Through the Nevada Commission on Economic Development s CDBG program, provided business assistance, training and community assessment support in rural areas (funding: $140,000 for FY09-10). Also submitted a proposal for $135,000 for FY10-11, which has been approved. Utilized students to conduct a personal interview survey to shoppers at Legends mall in Sparks. The project generated $2,880. Recruited the Economic Development Authority of Nye County (EDEN Inc.) and Great Basin College, Pahrump Center, to partner with RNDC on grant writing and future funding for economic development projects in rural Nevada. For a fee ($500/plan), reviewed business plans for the U.S. Forest Service Tahoe National Forest Recreation Complex RFP. BEP submitted a grant application to EPA for the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network 2011 annual conference. BEP submitted a grant proposal to EPA to provide technical assistance and support the development of a home energy retrofit market in Washoe and Clark Counties (proposal not funded). 9

11 BEP submitted a proposal to the Nevada Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority to conduct training and support adoption of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (proposal pending). Submitted an SBA Portability proposal (not funded). Submitted an SBA Veterans Outreach proposal (not funded). Submitted a Business and International Education proposal, which was not funded (proposal was not reviewed because of a misunderstanding with proposed cash match line item). With UNR Center for Economic Development, submitted a USDA RCDI grant (not funded). Submitted a proposal to NDOT to provide DBE assistance for small construction firms, in the amount of $231,730 (proposal pending). With Reno Redevelopment, Great Basin Basket and the Nevada Farmers Market Association, submitted a $20,000 USDA Specialty Crop Block grant, to assist the West Street Market in downtown Reno establish a farmers distribution system to restaurants. BEP assisted the Nevada State Office of Energy (NSOE) in preparing a proposal to U.S. DOE for development of a home energy retrofit market in Nevada. If DOE funds the proposal, BEP will receive funding through an interlocal agreement and provide technical support to NSOE, local governments, and engage and support stakeholder groups. BEP received second year funding for the Small Business Sustainability Initiative from SBA and submitted a revised budget to secure additional unallocated funds for the project. Continued to receive a grant from the Nevada Commission on Economic Development for a special impact zone in Las Vegas, in the amount of $21,470. Various cities and local entities provided support for business counseling efforts - Reno ($50,000), Carson City ($15,000), Douglas County ($5,000), Economic Development Authority of Eastern Nevada ($20,000), and Humboldt Development Authority ($37,500). Continued to approach various city and local governments for the NSBDC to provide counseling and economic development services. PROCUREMENT: Partnered in Northern and Southern Nevada with the State of Nevada Procurement Outreach Program (POP) to assist clients in accessing local, state and federal contracts. Served on the Nevada Alliance for Defense, Energy and Business in support of client contracting and Nevada test site opportunities. Worked with a client to get his applications completed so he could compete for Bureau of Land Management, as well as Forest Service, contracts. Served on the Regional Business Development Advisory Council (RBDAC) Contract & Procurement Database Committee. 10

12 Partnered with NMI, with participation from POP, SCORE, and SBA in conducting monthly procurement seminars in Reno. WSPPN supported and coordinated the West Coast Environmental Purchasing Network (WC EPP) that meets regularly to encourage states to preferentially purchase green products. The group is composed of state government personnel from California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The group was successful at getting Granger to reformat its online catalog to emphasize its green product line and adding green products to its core list. The group is currently offering suggestions to green an RFP the Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA) is issuing for a multi-state contract for facilities maintenance, lighting products, industrial supplies and tools and for increasing the number of points suppliers can get for environmentally preferable options. Conducted a Contract Opportunities and Resources for Small Businesses Forum to assist organizations in accessing contracts funded through the Recovery Act for Small Businesses. SPECIAL EMPHASIS GROUPS BEP continues to partner with the Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN) with training on green building practices for their Build Green Nevada Program. Other topics covered included IECC code training and HVAC installations and home energy retrofits. BEP continued to implement the Environmental Results Program for dry cleaners and provided training and a self-certification program and compliance manual to dry cleaners in Clark County. Provided training to Wal-Mart managers on the subject of diversity and Hispanic workforce. Coordinated with the Elko County School District s Gifted and Talented Program to create a 5 speaker workshop for 150 GT kids in the district to learn the benefits of entrepreneurship and to assist them with the development of their own businesses to sell products they developed to the community. NSBDC advisors provided counseling on a regular and ongoing basis to area disabled entrepreneurs including those receiving assistance from State of Nevada Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Security, and Veterans Administration. Provided NxLeveL instructor certification for rural Nevada instructors. Attended the 2010 Western Regional Summit with attendees from Western states where we developed recommendations to USDA rural development related to business development, energy, broadband, and food systems. Ran an abbreviated weekly Campus Kids program bringing 4 th, 5 th, and 6 th graders to campus, to get high risk kids familiar with the University and show them they have options for achieving higher education. Developed a proposal for a one-credit class for Hispanic youth, to focus on business. We re seeking a sponsor. 11

13 Dayton NxLeveL was launched in March 2010 and Caliente NxLeveL started in April These rural classes were sponsored by NCED through CDBG funding. In conjunction with the Carson Valley Chamber, participated in Leadership Douglas County, an initiative to target the brightest leadership grads from the LCD program and offer skill building seminars to improve their business acumen. Provided Social Media for Beginners to the communities of Pahrump, Caliente, and Laughlin. The NSBDC makes its staff members available to area schools, civic, university and community groups to speak about the resource of the NSBDC and its partners as well as to assist and guide them in finding resources for their programs, projects and ideas. The NSBDC is an ongoing member of DECCA and the Governor s Cup. These entities support Business Planning competition by students for High School and Universities/Colleges. Partnered with the Nevada Rural Development Council (NRDC) and other partners to guide the Council s activities, as well as conduct community assessments. Also, continued to follow up on Nevada s community assessments in Wells and Douglas County. New assessments were conducted in Silver Springs and Churchill County. Met monthly with University Economic Development Association s (UEDA) staff and conference committee to help plan their national conference in Reno in November Taught NxLeveL undergraduate classes to students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: BEP worked with economic development entities and businesses expanding or relocating to Nevada. Guidance was provided to these businesses to make sure they are in compliance with the federal, state status and county/city ordinances. These businesses were referred to Nevada Business Connections and Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada for real estate and general business question. Strongly supported the Nevada Rural Development Council s community assessment process. Initiated follow-up to previous assessments in Wells and Douglas County, as supported other assessments through NRDC board participation, community assessment teams, and other follow-up activities. Continued to serve in an advisory capacity on the Main Street Program for the Town of Gardnerville, funded in part by the County Commission. Serve on the Economic Development/Resource Development team to implement a new loan program through USDA as the intermediary funding source. Currently the loan program is being marketed to the area businesses on Main Street. BEP continued to lead a green hotel/casino/conventions working group in Washoe County to assist these entities improve their environmental sustainability and promote green convention, conference, and tourism opportunities in the Reno/Sparks area. 12

14 Worked with economic development and business agencies throughout the state to help businesses relocate, as well as diversify the Nevada economy. The NSBDC Business Environmental Program assisted with environmental requirements, programs, and permitting issues. Participated in roundtable discussions with Elko County Economic Diversification Authority on work force development issues in Elko County. Assisted with the Douglas County Economic Vitality Plan to engage community leaders in researching the various plans/studies completed over the last 10 years to define common themes. Developed those common themes into a strategic plan and strategized on who would be the best champion of each of those themes. Increased outreach to rural Elko County by providing face to face counseling activities in those areas. Through an EDA grant at Lake Tahoe, worked with a team of resource agencies involving 5 counties, 2 states, the federal agency TRPA, and the tribe. Hired a consulting firm to assist with focus group sessions and will be working on defining the top priorities for the Basin. Continued to work with local and county resource partners for the establishment of a business incubator program in Nye County. Provided semi-annual economic outlook reports to several local banks, as well as semiannual economic statistics for a report that the banks use for CRA documentation. Provided NAB (neighborhood advisory board districts) and Ward level demographics for the City of Reno. Assisted in completing the business plan for a greenhouse project that will provide horticultural and agricultural products to the residents and businesses of Carson City. The goal is to seek financing with grant match to get the greenhouse built. The site slated is Carson City High School. Provided mapping/analytical services involving demographic and economic data to banks, property owners, housing developers, commercial brokers, title companies, consultants, engineering firms, SBDC clients, and SCORE clients. Continued to publish a housing report that contains trends of demographics, existing home sales, new home sales, and an inventory of the proposed residential developments by subregion for Reno-Sparks. Continued to track monthly and quarterly sales (for new and existing home and condo sales for Reno, Sparks, Incline, Washoe County and nine Reno-Sparks sub-regions) reports using Washoe County Assessor files. The Center for Regional Studies department maintains access to the MLS sales database and continues to generate and provide sales reports to the Northern Nevada MLS (NNMLS). The reports also contain unique graphs and maps. 13

15 RESEARCH: Partnered with InfoSearch to conduct the Reno-Tahoe Economic Outlook Business Survey in January Over 500 business leaders in Northern Nevada responded to the on-line survey to measure opinions about the regional business environment including existing and anticipated economic conditions, employment needs, and the advantages and challenges of conducting business in the Greater Reno-Tahoe area. BEP s Wood Utilization Manager coordinated a UNR s biomass research group to develop a research proposal on biomass processing and biochar development designed to explore feasibility of business and economic development around Pinion-Juniper landscape restoration in eastern Nevada. Other NSBDC personnel participated in the group. The State Demographer continued to provide Nevada s official annual population estimates and projections for Nevada s cities and counties, as well as age, sex, race and Hispanic Origin estimates and projections for counties. NSBDC advisors and graduate students conducted research to obtain financial and operating benchmark data for various industries. A start-up assessment tool has been developed to incorporate the benchmarks into a modeling resource for our clients. Continued with development of an online blog to discuss Nevada fiscal issues and economic development, intended to educate people about the Nevada fiscal system and promote and facilitate a public dialogue. Target date to launch the blog has been adjusted to July Provided the only source of local home foreclosure data for Washoe County, the only such source of accurate local data. Continued to work on a Hispanic surname database for the Imagine 2012 initiative (Hispanic initiative). The resulting database will be used to relate to and query from local government databases, including business licenses, voter registrations, assessor data, etc. to calculate Hispanic economic and demographic trends at the regional and neighborhood levels. Updated Washoe County demographics by Census block. Gathered 5-years of Douglas County revenues and expenditures in order to build a fiscal impact model. Worked with Truckee Meadows Water Authority (ongoing) to analyze distressed housing and water usage in their service area. Provided annual population projections by subdivision through 2015 to TMWA for use in their long-range planning models. The database of new residential construction that is maintained for Washoe County is the most comprehensive and accurate database in existence and has proven to be an invaluable tool for planning future growth and demand. Identified Reno-Sparks housing units for an energy-efficiency grant based on tenure, year built, and income. Produced 2010 demographics by Neighborhood Advisory Board for the City of Reno. Calculated residential construction trends, population, and employment along the Virginia Street corridor for a street-trolley feasibility analysis. 14

16 Calculated Census tract-level demographic projections for Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and the Navajo Nation. Generated monthly active listings report of home re-sales using MLS data in order to track unabsorbed inventory that assists in the projection of home sales and construction. The report includes current and historical active listings and occupancy status for nine Reno- Sparks subregions. Provided quarterly updates to the Reno-Sparks proposed commercial activity maps & indices developed from information found in building permits, various government meeting minutes, newspaper, and other sources associated with construction. Provided quarterly updates to the residential construction activity for each subdivision in Washoe County by conducting field surveys and researching planning documents and county assessor data. Also maintained housing data for five other Nevada counties. Continued to survey all business counseling clients on a quarterly basis, regarding level of satisfaction with counseling services. Initiated a quarterly economic indicator and index report for general public use and marketing purposes. Provided semi-annual development of population projections for TMWA pump zones and service areas by conducting field surveys and researching planning documents and county assessor data. Provided monthly and quarterly housing sales stats and maps for nine Reno-Sparks subregions as annual subscriptions for the Reno-Sparks Association of Realtors and Prudential Sierra Nevada Properties. OTHER ACTIVITY: Continued work on the Business Services Group (BSG) website for the University of Nevada, Reno. This portal, managed by the NSBDC, is planned to more effectively communicate value and relevancy of business services to the community and help businesses understand and access the knowledge resources only available from the State s land grant university. Met quarterly with SBA partners to discuss SBA initiatives, training events, and other opportunities to partner. Redesigned the BEP website. The new BEP web address is The new website is user friendly with new content and discussion blogs that encourage public interaction with BEP, NSBDC, the Business Services Group and the University. Redesigned the Center for Regional Studies website. The CRS website provides useful statistics and information for businesses. Continued to host SCORE in Reno and Las Vegas. The NSBDC could not effectively address all counseling concerns without the assistance of our SCORE counselors. 15

17 Spoke to the BUS 201 class at GBC on entrepreneurship issues, such as the importance of preparing a business plan, financing issues and options, and putting together a marketing plan. Supported efforts to improve infrastructure development in the areas of increased broadband capability, green technology, industrial parks and alternative energy sources. SUCCESS STORIES: Naan and Kabab, Reno, NV Maurice Afraimi, owner of Naan and Kabab, etc, came to Reno to do something he d done a few times before open a successful restaurant. This time, however, his cuisine would be something much closer to his heart and heritage: Mediterranean. Maurice emigrated from Persia as a boy, and he never lost his passion for the healthy, tasty cuisine of his upbringing. Eventually he turned that fire for food into a career and he now has a lifetime of culinary experience. From working his teen-age years as a short order cook at a greasy spoon truck stop, to teaching culinary school at Job Corps in San Jose, food has been more than just a way to make a living for Maurice it s a microcosm for life. Passion is important. I believe that if you love what you re doing you ll never work a day in your life, said Maurice. I started this restaurant so that I could share the food that my parents and neighbors used to make when I was a child. I love my job. After opening and managing several successful clubs and restaurants in the Bay Area, Maurice decided to move to Reno a place he loves and serve the food he d grown up with. But he d had heard from many other business owners that Reno was unpredictable. There are many factors that make it difficult to predict business in Reno, said Maurice. From the weather, to tourism, to having a college-town cycle it s difficult to know what businesses will work and what won t. So, my strategy is simple: consistently provide excellent food and service at a reasonable price. The only way to overcome instability is to have a group of loyal customers. And we do: eighty-five percent of our customers are repeat. Maurice first came to the Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC) in December of 2008 where he met with Debra Deming, the Marketing Counselor at the Reno NSBDC. He requested assistance to market his restaurant to the Reno populace and ensure a strong opening the upcoming February. NSBDC interns drafted invite lists for three grand openings, each targeted at a different segment of the professional population and workforce. Naan & Kabab opened Valentine s Day weekend, 2009 and served over 500 people. Since then, business has grown steadily as Maurice and his staff continue to refine their food and service. It s been very exciting and very satisfying how Reno has accepted the Mediterranean food. But Naan & Kabab hasn t grown complacent - they ve continued to add menu items, events, and services to their repertoire. While they serve delicious Mediterranean standards like falafel, tri-tip gyros, dolma, and baba ganoush (and much more), they re always looking to create something new and extraordinary. Take their Mediterranean burger for example: a halfpound burger made with their signature koobedeh meat (a spiced blend of lamb and beef) served with tzatziki sauce and falafel. And their Awesome Dude dessert, crumbled baklava served atop homemade pistachio ice cream is heavenly. To quench your thirst, Naan & Kabab commissioned local brewery Knee Deep Brewing to create a Mediterranean-style pilsner (which they ll be unveiling in August). They stay mobile by catering events in town and they ve even incorporated Middle-eastern dancing and music on Friday and Saturday nights. Over the year and a half that they ve been open, the Small Business Development Center has guided Maurice and his staff to use new digital media as a central aspect to their 16

18 marketing. They gave us suggestions on how to refine our website and better use Facebook to reach our fans. We ve grown from just over a hundred fans in December of 2009 to over 900 fans in July Naan & Kabab has fans all over Nevada and California, and they span all ages. It surprised me how much the younger people, especially children, love our food. I guess I can attribute that to the flavors that we have in our food the absence of the strong spices and that s been a wonderful surprise to me. But staying in business requires a commitment to the organization, and Maurice settles on that aspect as essential to success. Most important is bonding our staff and creating a culture that brings out the best in everybody. To put it simply, we work to build a culture where you can feel relaxed and be happy going to work. When people are in a bad mood they pass on that aura to the customer. So the culture that s created here is friendly and relaxed and positive. Despite his years, Maurice is energetic and full of optimism for the long-term success of Naan & Kabab. Of course restaurants take many hours of work, but I don t seem to mind it at all. I m meeting some very special people, and my thanks goes to UNR and the NSBDC for their marketing. And finally, we stay in business because of our loyal customers. We can t appreciate you enough. And we know that if we don t consistently do our job, you wouldn t be as loyal as you are and so we will continue to do our best and listen to you, our most valuable assets. Peace Ethiopian Market, Las Vegas, NV Peace Ethiopian Market opened their doors for business on May 19th Solomon Abebe, one of the owners of Peace Ethiopian Market, thanked the Small Business Development Center for their help. I could not have been able to open my shop if it were not for the Small Business Development Center and my advisor. I am very grateful for their help to get open. Mike Bindrup, NSBDC advisor, said Working as an advisor to Solomon and Iskandar Abdi has been a learning experience. It took almost nine months to get through the construction and regulatory process to be able to open for business. There are many obstacles in the pre-opening phase of their type of business. We had to get a zone variance from the county to be able to open. The process was very long. I learned English in school, says Abebe, who is originally from Ethiopia. Abebe immigrated to Germany and then to the United States in Having to leave your home is very hard, but I am happy that the United States is the land of opportunity, said Abebe. He and his partner, Abdi, are both cab drivers in Las Vegas and started working on the concept for Peace Ethiopian Market a couple of years ago. We wanted to create a place where people could come and relax and have a coffee and get something to eat, said Abebe. We have a room in the back with billiard tables and International programming. We were proud to show every game of the World Cup this year. Peace Ethiopian Market carries a variety of Ethiopian and African food products and also features cut to order beef and lamb. I think that all small business owners should come to the NSBDC for assistance, because it is very hard to go through this process alone. This is all a dream, a dream come true. says Abebe. Our advisor was there with us every step of the way. Island Rainbow Wellness Center, Carson City, NV Shelby Molchan had originally planned on building Island Rainbow Wellness Center on, you guessed it, an island. The Big Island of Hawaii, in fact. However, life had other plans and Shelby stayed in Carson City to bring a little bit of island living to Nevada. 17

19 Shelby opened Island Rainbow Wellness Center in March of 2010, after having spent 25 years in the beauty industry and gaining 15 years of medical background. She understands and specializes on the connection between health and outward beauty. Thus, her services are not those of a standard salon. Shelby stands by the adage: beauty comes from the inside, and her center focuses on enhancing beauty by cleaning from within. She specializes in Colon Hydrotherapy, ionic foot detoxification, and ear candling. Her career focus arose from personal medical issues. Shelby had been bedridden for over a year when she found Colon Hydrotherapy (colonics) a technique by which you cleanse the bowel to limit the amount of toxins that leach into the body. The process helped Shelby become healthy again. She decided to learn more about the details of the procedure and eventually became a certified Colon Hydrotherapist. Shelby understood that going into business would also involve education. Shelby turned to the Nevada Small Business Development Center. With the guidance of NSBDC counselors, Shelby embarked on an amazing learning process in which she performed market research, wrote a business plan, and examined financial spreadsheets and projections. [The NSBDC] put me in touch with people who would finance me and helped in the loan application process, said Shelby. She received her business loan and opened her doors in March of She s been busy since the inception. And while Shelby is thrilled with her launch, she plans to expand her services to include an infrared sauna, manicures, pedicures, and reflexology. But she realizes the limitations of being the only employee. With the amount of business that I m getting, I won t be able to do everything by myself, said Shelby, who would like to hire more employees. Additionally, she s planning on featuring other practitioner workshops (yoga, belly dancing, movement) during evenings in the summer. When asked what advice she has for other business owners Shelby said, Pursue every lead; you never know where good information is going to come from. You never know who this person knows. And while she d initially planned on working on an island in the Pacific, Shelby said she s going to stay in Nevada. I have my hands full and I m having a blast. I came to Carson City because there was nobody doing what I do in this area. I m very encouraged by my clients in Carson, and loyal clients who followed me from Reno and as far away as Mammoth. I m very grateful for that. Sunshine Movers, LLC, North Las Vegas, NV When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt Danny and Trish Ives held management positions with two large nationally prominent home builders when the soft real estate market took its toll. They were both laid off. That prompted the decision to become self-employed and thus began the year-long application process to become a licensed moving company. Danny and Trish had formed an LLC, purchased a truck and were ready to begin handling temporary moves to facilitate warranty work for customers of Danny s former employer, when they learned about the need for licensing from the Nevada Transportation Authority. That s when they sought help from the Nevada Small Business Development Center. The NSBDC was able to help them understand the regulatory agency s language and the requirements for an application package and process that almost defies description. As numerous requests for additional information were received, Trish Ives became adept at preparing responses, winning accolades from the agency s staff at one point for the best (20- page) tariff in town. Her customer service and administrative experience served the new company well. What seemed like endless delays stretched their resources financial, physical and mental very thin. On March 30, 2010 Sunshine Movers was approved as a certificated common carrier of household goods. Danny was commended for his presentation at the hearing. The NTA 18