Learn more... BREAKING NEWS! LIVE & WORK - Build Your Career -- Continuing Education -- Training -- Chambers of Commerce - Our Lifestyle -- Community Profile -- Housing -- Education -- Cost of Living -- Public Safety -- Health Care -- Climate -- Arts & Entertainment -- Sports & Recreation - Move to MIGSW -- Find a New Home -- Housing Information -- Telephone & Utilities -- Child Care & Education -- Medical Resources -- Retiring in MIGSW -- News Media -- Places to Worship -- Government Information -- Taxes -- Transportation -- Accommodations -- Calling All Volunteers -- Relocation Packages -- More Services & Info DO BUSINESS - What's Hot! - Business Resources -- Economics -- Financial -- Workforce Development -- Int'l Business Resources -- Michigan Govt Issues - Relocate to MIGSW -- Site Selection -- Infrastructure -- Labor Force -- Incentives -- Taxes -- Accommodations GREAT PEOPLE - Career Connections - Famous Residents - Clubs & Organizations ABOUT MIGSW QUICK FACTS COMMUNITY LINKS AREA MAPS CONTACT US SEARCH RETURN TO HOME PAGE NEWS RELEASE Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services October 29, 2002 Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services provides business counseling, training, technical, and financial resource assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on low-income, women, and minority entrepreneurs. Following is a detailed list of the programs and services offered by the program Technical Assistance The Technical Assistance Program is sponsored by U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services. The Technical Assistance (TA) Program provides business and financial technical assistance to low-income individuals seeking to obtain private sector financing for their businesses. Designed to address the specific needs of the low-income small business owner, the TA Program assembles every possible resource—from local colleges to business professionals—into one strong support system dedicated to the success of your business. The TA Program provides long-term assistance to help low-income business owners move from the start-up stage to established and expanding businesses. Technical assistance includes assistance in marketing, management, business operations, business counseling, and training. Business guidance is provided before, during, and after financing and includes: · Entrepreneur Support. Business advisors support the entrepreneur by providing counseling, guidance, and assistance to help enhance the business plan and plays an advisory role in the business owner’s future. · Pre-Loan Application Review. Commercial bank loan officers will pinpoint the strengths of the business plan, the business, and business owner and identify areas that need improvement. · Loan Application. Small Business Services staff will help identify financing opportunities and help make the loan presentation to the private lending institution. · Loan Packaging. Working with local banks and other private sector lenders as well as government agencies, Small Business Services staff helps you put together the funds needed to develop and grow your business. · Financial Counseling. Assistance in analyzing the feasibility of contemplated debt and equity financing; review of terms, conditions, and amortization of proposed financing; and assistance in the establishment and implementation of management reporting and monitoring practices. · Management Assistance. How to plan, organize, staff, direct, and control each major activity and function of small business concern such as regulations and licenses, taxes, form of business, pricing, marketing, personnel, etc. · Marketing Assistance. How to identify and segment market opportunities; prepare and execute marketing plans; develop pricing strategies; locate contract opportunities; negotiate contracts; and use public relations and advertising techniques. · Government Contracts Assistance. How to prepare documents necessary for securing local, state, and federal government contracts; advise on preparing routine or special reports; and assistance in implementing appropriate compliance procedures. CASBS utilizes a network of economic development resources to provide advice and assistance that is as complete, thorough, and as confidential as possible. U.S. Small Business Administration Special Programs SBA Pre-Qualification Loan Program. This program enables the SBA to prequalify a loan guaranty for a minority or woman business owner before approaching a lender. The program focuses on an applicant’s character, credit, experience, and reliability rather than collateral. CASBS works with a qualified business owner to review and strengthen the loan application. The review is based on key financial ratios, credit history, business history, and the proposed use of the proceeds. The Pre-qualification Loan Program is available through CASBS. Bank One Community Express Program. This program is a new five-year pilot lending program aimed at increasing small business lending in low- and moderate-income communities across the United States. CASBS partners with Bank One by serving as intake providers. As our program partners, these organizations will screen the applicant for eligibility, assist in the preparation of the loan application, and help the applicant develop the business plan. * Renaissance Development Fund Commercial Micro-Loan Program. An initiative aimed at addressing access to business financing for those who are traditionally underserved, including low-income persons, persons with disabilities, women, and minorities. Borrowers with a minimum of 6 months business history may be eligible for a business plan loan ranging from $500 to $25,000. * Neighborhood Venture Development Loan. Offers credit to entrepreneurs who need small business loans but who may not have strong credit, much business experience, or sufficient collateral. Entrepreneurs may be eligible to borrow and repay progressively larger amounts, starting with loans as low as $300 and up to $3,000. If applicant has past credit problems, significant improvement to the borrower’s credit report must be documented before the borrower can move from one stage to the next. * The Commercial Micro Loan and Neighborhood Development Loan are available only in selected areas of Southwestern Michigan and are geared toward small commercial and neighborhood businesses or home-based businesses. Loan funds can be used to purchase equipment, inventory or supplies, or to provide working capital. The five C’s of credit: (Character of the borrower, Capacity to repay, Credit worthiness, Capital to invest in the business, and Collateral) is considered in review of each loan application. Business Resource Center The Business Resource Station (BRS) provides clients with counselors, business reference material, computers, and computer software to help with starting or expanding a business. Two computer workstations with Internet connections are available for client use. The BRS also offers a reference library addressing a wide array of business issues, including Entrepreneur Magazine’s Start-Up Guides. The business guides are designed to give clients the help, information, and guidance needed to make their dreams a reality. Step-by-step instruction, how-to lists and hands-on worksheets guide clients through every aspect of the start-up process. Choose from over 20 guides covering such subjects as Home Inspection Services, Sales & Marketing, Bridal Consulting, Child Care Services, Starting & Running a Home-Based Business, among others. Additionally, a video library addressing many business planning and marketing concerns is available at the BRS. In addition to the counseling services, computer workstations, and business financing opportunities currently available, clients have access to reference materials, computer databases, texts, on-line information exchange, start-up guides, periodicals & brochures, computer tutorials, and video tapes. The Business Resource Station is located on the 1st floor of Cornerstone Alliance offices at 38 W. Wall Street in downtown Benton Harbor. Initially the station is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 925-6100, ext. 211 for an appointment to visit the library or use the center’s computers. CORE FOUR® Business Planning Course CASBS offers the CORE FOUR® Business Planning Course. The course consists of one 3-hour session per week for four weeks. Entrepreneurs are presented with information on how to plan a business, and cover marketing, cash flow, and operations planning. The course also presents “Success Planning,” which focuses on the personal goals of the business owner, business ethics, and other personal development topics. CASBS recommends the following individuals attend the CORE FOUR® course: people with a business idea, struggling business owners, owners of growing or changing businesses, and potential borrowers. The course fee will include all materials. Financial assistance for the course may be available to eligible participants. All courses will be held at the Cornerstone Alliance offices, 38 W. Wall Street, downtown Benton Harbor. Pre-registration is required, and full payment of the course fee is required at registration. To pre-register or for more information, please call Margaret Larkin at CASBS, 269-925-6100, ext. 211. For Further Information Cornerstone Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Staff can be reached at Cornerstone Alliance, 38 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 428, Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0428, Phone: 925.6100 • Fax: 925.4471.   If you see this image then click it to find locations in that category in our area! For more information Cornerstone Alliance P.O. Box 428, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 tel: (269) 925-6100 webmaster@michigansgreatsw.com