Chesterfield Economic Development (CED) and Chesterfield County Public Library (CCPL) unveiled their new small business initiative, "My Business Starts Here", at Meadowdale Library, 4301 Meadowdale Boulevard, on September 1st.Local business operators will have an easier, more comfortable, more comprehensive way to get the information and support they need when starting or sustaining a small business in Chesterfield County. The departments were joined by county leaders, local entrepreneurs, and the community, who were the first to access Economic Development's new web portal, MyBusinessStartsHere.com, in the library's new Small Business Resource Center.
The web portal was designed to help potential entrepreneurs navigate the abundant resources available to help start and sustain a small business in Chesterfield County. Users are guided, step-by-step, through the process of starting a business; can zero in on industry specific requirements, can ask specific questions about doing business in Chesterfield County; or can identify potential sources of capital.
Chesterfield County Public Library's Small Business Resource Center was designed with the small-business operator's needs in mind. The center can be used as a second office, a meeting place, a staff-training facility, or a research lab. Desktops and laptops are available to the public, as are current books and magazines and a variety of small-business tools - all free of charge. Users can access the best of the web as chosen by professional librarians, in addition to receiving one-on-one assistance with their business research.
"While there are already a multitude of resources available for small businesses, getting the right help can be challenging" says Jim Holland, Board of Supervisor for the Dale District. "This new initiative eliminates the difficulty potential entrepreneurs experience in getting started and getting help, by providing a coordinated approach to fulfilling their needs."
Individuals can access the new portal from home, or from any Chesterfield County Public Library location. For more information contact Karen Aylward at 804-318-8550 or Karen@chesterfieldbusiness.com.
