The state rolled out a new program to help small and minority-owned businesses today – one that can help entrepreneurs find both financing and technical assistance.
The state Treasury Department will finance the Small and Minority Owned Business Assistance Program.
State Representative Johnny Shaw, a member of the state black caucus and owner of a small radio station in Bolivar, says newcomers to the business world could really use the technical aid.
“People get a great idea – ‘Man, I’m gonna open up something on the corner, and everybody’s gonna rush in,’ but if you don’t know, if you haven’t done some marketing and know exactly how many gadgets, or widgets, you’re going to produce or sell to stay in business, you don’t know.”
Shaw says the program will use more than six-million state dollars, matched by up to nine million dollars from private sources. New businesses are eligible for loans up to one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.
So far nearly 200 applications have been filled out for the loans, which can be done online.
Click here to visit the site.
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