New York SBDC Research Network

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Canton SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Dennis & Kelly Forsyth Four Sites Camp Wildwood Canton SBDC Dennis and Kelly Forsyth have owned property on Black Lake for many years and love the region. They had the opportunity to purchase Camp Wildwood, a business that had been in business for more than 50 years. The property included a gorgeous house as well as four cottages and four RV sites. Black Lake, often called a “freshwater fisherman’s paradise,” attracts thousands due to its proximity to the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Thousand Islands, the Adirondack Park, and Canada. Dennis and Kelly realized that if Camp Wildwood closed, it would impact tourism in their area. They felt they were uniquely suited to run the facility due to their connections in the region and skills at maintaining the cabi...

Getting information about not-for-profit organizations may be easier than you realize. From   GRANTSPACE , a service of Foundation Center "According to  IRS disclosure regulations , exempt organizations must make its three most recently filed annual 990 or 990-PF returns and all related supporting documents available for public inspection. This public disclosure rule also applies to Form 1023, which is filed to obtain exempt status." Check out the list of websites from which one can get an organization's Form 990 or Form 990-PF.

Veterans: Growing your business? Boots to Business REBOOT THE AMERICAN LEGION, VBOC OF NYC & NJ and The SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PRESENT A FREE TWO DAY PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHO WANT TO START, EXPAND OR PURCHASE A SMALL BUSINESS. American Legion Post 170, 33 W. Passaic St., Rochelle Park, NJ 07662 Wednesday, May 11th and Thursday,  May 12th 2016 From  09:00 AM to 4:00 PM – refreshments provided at no cost courtesy of American Legion Post  170 Registration required by April 27, 2016 Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sfVrIL2u3xJgL3luQNd6Mxy0QxBQyQVkIOJD3b0xVSM/viewform?c=0&w=1 For Questions Contact: Gene Spillane, SBA Veterans Small Business Outreach Officer Eugene.Spillane@SBA.gov / 972-645-2427

If you operate a “local business” (meaning one that gets most of its customers from your local area), don’t overlook the Internet as an important way to attract new customers and stay top of mind with existing customers or past customers. According to  Google research , having good online information gets more people to shop in brick-and-mortar stores and businesses. For local businesses, there are some specific steps to take to make sure that your business can be found by searchers in your geographical area.  Because after all, you want local shoppers.  So being found by local searchers is the name of the game for you -- not just Web visibility in general. HERE   a checklist of important steps to take for local SEO:

From Empire State Development: The $35 million Global NY Fund provides loans and grants to help New York State’s small- and medium-sized businesses go global and create new jobs in New York.   The Global NY team is coming to all 10 regions of New York State to introduce the $35 million Global NY Fund, which provides loans and grants to help small and medium-sized New York businesses start exporting or increase their global export sales. Grants are also available to non-profits that provide export assistance and trade education to New York State companies. To find out more about any of our events and to RSVP, please email  or call: 212-803-2300  Tour schedule Mohawk Valley – March 29th (breakfast 8:30-10:30) Location: Room IT 225 at Mohawk Valley Community College 1101 Sherman Dr, Utica, NY 13501   Capital Region – March 30th (breakfast 8:30-10:30) Location: Albany Marriott Hotel 189 Wolf Road Albany, NY 12205

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Buffalo SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Jabril & Ellen Shareef Living Green Insulation Products and Services, Inc. Buffalo SBDC Living Green Insulation Products and Services, Inc. has worked with the Buffalo State SBDC for several years. Co-owners, Jabril and Ellen Shareef have been engaged in construction related enterprises for over 20 years, and completed the Buffalo SBDC’s Minority and Women Bonding Readiness Program. When they approached the Buffalo SBDC more recently, they were forming their first green business enterprise, which converts recycled paper into cellulose insulation. Jabril and Ellen worked with Advisor Bill Grieshober to develop a complex funding proposal for $960,000 that included funding from First Niagara Bank and the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. The...

Remember Qwikster? In September 2011, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings decided to spin off the DVD section of his business from the streaming service and name it Qwikster. Users revolted--big time. Learn how to  benefit by avoiding these CEO's mistakes.