LOCAL BUSINESS RESOURCES

Starting a business is no small undertaking.   On this page, we would like to provide our readers with some informative resource material for those who are considering opening a small business, expanding or looking to purchase one.

The best places to begin your search in starting a small business is your local Chamber of Commerce, Regional Planning and Development Commission, local Small Business Development office and Business or Professional Associations.  These organizations host a great cross section of information, resources, advice, loan programs and educational opportunities to assist you with setting up your business or with the expansion of existing businesses. 

Another great resource to grow your business is by networking locally within your community.  One such place is the Twin Tiers Entrepreneur Group which meets the second Wednesday of each month at 8 a.m. in Elmira, New York, at 303 William Street.  At these meetings, you can meet other local business people from all industries to discuss your business ideas and strategies. Gather to discuss current projects, share experiences, and to network with other people interested in all aspects of business.  This group is not intended to be a direct referral network. However, it is designed to be a place to share dynamic business strategies and to brainstorm new ideas.  Each month a new business topic is discussed such as marketing, financing, technology, and personnel management.  With over 45 members, the group welcomes like-minded people who would like to spend a couple hours every month discussing what works and what does not.  Meet other local business people from all industries to discuss your business ideas and strategies. Gather to discuss current projects, share experiences, and to network with other people interested in all aspects of business.  There are no fee or dues to attend or join this group.  For more information on the Twin Tiers Entrepreneur Group, visit http://businessnetwork.meetup.com/579/. 

Mentoring - A mentor is someone whose hindsight can become your foresight.  New entrepreneurs can take advantage of some of the many free resources available on the net via a simple search on a specific topic.  There are a great many websites from which to draw information and inspiration from.  However, some new to the business community may wish to benefit their business more on a personal level by seeking a mentor or coach. This is a wonderful opportunity by which to develop business skills, personal development, advice and more.  The search for a mentor can be as simple as typing in your search topic and getting a list of business professionals with expertise in that area.   www.micromentor.org hosts a website in which you may participate without cost and have access to a whole spectrum of mentors (and even mentees) who volunteer their time and talent toward the entreprenerial process.  Definitely worth the time for consideration, mentoring is another option to think about! 

 Educational Programs Announced

The Mansfield University Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership was established in the fall of 2009 with a grant from the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education.  MCEL's mission is to promote the development of an entrepreneurial culture within the University and surrounding communities, and to foster and assist entrepreneurial action.  The Center sponsors workshops, short courses, speaker presentations and activities to encourage new business startups and promote the growth and success of new businesses in the region.  Upcoming class announcements and other information is available by calling 1-800-661-3640 or by visiting http://cll.mansfield.edu/entrepreneurship.

The Small Business Development Center located in Scranton announces upcoming classes for business owners or those interested in starting a business.  Classes are availabe in Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Bradford and Tioga Counties.

Class announcments are as follows:  The First Step:  Starting Your Business, The Second Step:  Developing Your Business Plan, and Building Your Business.

The University of Scranton SBDC also provides small business consulting services at no cost to residents of Bradford, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming counties.  Visit www.scrantonsbdc.com and select Small Business Seminars and Training for informtion regarding programs in Export Basics, Entrepreneurship, Financing Your Business, Food For Profit, Goal Setting = Success, Quickbooks Basics, ServSafe Food Safety Certification, Social Media and Your Small Business, and Who Killed the Customer.

Visit our events calendar or the SBDC blog at http://scrantonsbdc.blogspot.com.  Classes are offered at various locations, dates and times throughout the region. 

Business Resource Agencies For The Twin Tiers Areas

The agencies and links listed here can provide assistance to all businesses both large and small, start up or expansion.  The listings and links provided are suggestions on where you may find information to set up a business or expand an exisiting one.  The list below is not all inclusive, as we will add to and revise the list from time to time as necessary to keep the information as current as possible. 

Chambers of Commerce - www.2chambers.com.  Wow!  This awesome, comprehensive website lists every local Chamber of Commerce, State Visitors Guides and Convention - Visitors Bureaus in the United States.  Once at the home page, click on your state, then click on the community or area of interest. This is a great website to pick up travel information from other communities and all 50 states!

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, www.pachamber.org, offers advocacy membership opportunities, regulatory compliance help, money saving programs, articles and many other features (too numerous to list here) to keep you up to date on topics relevant to economic development and more.

MetroAction, a nonprofit Small Business Administration (SBA) lender, is northeastern Pennsylvania's leading provider of small business loans and comprehensive business training.  MetroAction offers services such as:

• Loans from $250 to $75,000
• Learn about being a better business owner at the Small Business Institute
• Create a strong marketing plan by attending our Marketing Mastery program
• Get the training you need, when you need it, with our Business Builders Webinar

Serving Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties, Pennsylvania.

When banks can't help.....MetroAction can!  Visit www.metroaction.org or call 570-341-0270

Do you need expertise in operating or establishing your business and want to learn from someone who's been there, done that?  Look no further than your local S.C.O.R.E chapter.  S.C.O.R.E. hosts teams of volunteer retired business experts from all walks of the business world who have experience in the manufacturing, service, public and private sectors of business that are ready to work with you one-on-one online or off-line, confidentially and free of charge!  Check out S.C.O.R.E's website at www.score.org to locate an office near you.

 I-99 Business Park Opportunities

The future I-99 designation has received a boost recently with the purchase of a business park strategically situated near the junction of Pennsylvania State Route 6 and U.S. Route 15.   J. Grace Company of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, an independent developer, has purchased 23 lots  and already has three sites under development.  J. Grace Company is working with Zommick McMahon Commercial Real Estate, Inc. (www.zmcre.com), of Newtown Square, located near Philadelphia, to recruit businesses for the remaining sites.   To learn more about the park, visit www.i99businesspark.com or call (610) 359-1100.

   Where can I find a business for sale?

Are you searching for that perfect place to set up your business or, perhaps, interested in looking at or selling an existing one?  Check out our Commercial Real Estate section on the Classfieds page to see commercial properties and land tracts for sale and business properties for rent!

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We hope you have found our Business Resources section helpful and informative.  Questions, suggestions and comments can be sent to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Thank you for your interest! 

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