May 9, 2007: “Spotlight on Our Economy” Monthly Column for The Palladium-Times
By L. Michael Treadwell, CEcD, Executive Director of Operation Oswego County

Small Business Training Classes to Begin in June

For those interested in expanding or starting a small business in Oswego County, another series of Micro-Enterprise Program small business training classes are scheduled to begin in June.

The program is coordinated by the City of Fulton Community Development Agency (CDA), City of Oswego Community Development Office (CDO), SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations (OBCR) and Operation Oswego County (OOC) to provide guidance and support to people interested in starting or expanding a small business.

The program provides a 24-hour small-business training program that covers such topics as how to write a business plan, how to obtain financing, accounting and tax issues, business insurance, legalities, marketing, and other basic business start-up issues. Classroom training is provided by OBCR small business advisors Larry Perras, John Halleron and Bernadette Mroz, as well as other area business professionals.

Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in low-interest financing to expand or start their business in Oswego County.

Tuition for the program is $165 and includes all materials. Scholarships are available for households within low to moderate income guidelines as established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The 2007 Micro-Enterprise training schedule is as follows:

• Monday-Friday, June 18-23: Oswego Falls Business Center, 163 South First Street in Fulton, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.;

• Saturdays, Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Oct. 6: 118 Rich Hall, SUNY Oswego, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and

• Saturdays, Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 10, 17: SUNY Oswego Phoenix Education Center, Oswego County Industrial Park (off of exit 14 on 481) in Phoenix, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If starting or expanding your own small business in Oswego County is in your future, I urge you to consider enrolling in the Micro-Enterprise Program. For more information, or to register for a class, call 312-3492.
To download a program or scholarship application, visit www.oswegocounty.org/micro.html.

In other economic development news:

• The RiverHouse Restaurant is a new restaurant that will be built on a one-acre site in the village of Pulaski. The new 3,513 square foot facility will seat 124. The $1 million project will create 19 full-time and 26 part-time jobs and will receive funding assistance from the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency (IDA), a Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loan through OOC, Community Bank and New York Business Development Corp.;

• Oley’s East will acquire a former convenience store/gas station located in the town of Scriba. The building is 2,304 square feet and is located on a one-acre site. The new owners also own and operate Oley’s Express, a convenience store/gas station located in the town of Oswego, and Bayside Grocery located in Fair Haven. The project will create six jobs and will receive funding assistance from the IDA, an SBA 504 loan through OOC and Pathfinder Bank; and

• Hannibal Village Market will expand its fresh meat, produce, deli, hot foods, fresh bakery and natural and organic food lines by adding 2,038 square feet to its supermarket in the town of Hannibal. The project will create six jobs and will receive funding assistance from the IDA and Fulton Savings Bank.

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