Selma Small Business Support Center

Upcoming  Events:

January 22, 2008

Business Seminar

"Legal Landmines-Common Pitfalls of a Small Business"                                                 8-10 a.m.      Selma City Hall, 1710 Tucker Street                                         Speaker: Christopher J. Palmer, Vertex Legal

An in-depth review of legal issues of which business owners should be aware.  Phone for reservations  559/891-2200

February 19, 2008

Business Seminar-Topic and Speaker To Be Announced

SEMINARS SPONSORED BY PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY &               UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA

Mission Statement

The Selma Small Business Support Center (SBSC) is an economic development program designed to empower and increase the entrepreneurial capacities of the socially and economically diverse people of the City of Selma.  The SBSC strengthens the community's economy by providing valuable resources and information to local entrepreneurs and small business owners. The SBSC offers seminars on various topics including Web Development, Marketing and Information Security; networking opportunities; referrals to professional services such as attorneys, accountants, and loan officers; business plan consulting; loans designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses; and more.

 A Business Incubator Without Walls

A traditional business incubator usually provides an affordable physical location, shared office services, and business development assistance to new or formerly home-based businesses.  All of these services are offered in an effort to foster a strong setting for new business growth.  The SBSC program is an incubator without walls. It provides participating businesses with many of the same advantages as a traditional business incubator, without sharing the same building.  This allows those businesses to continue operating in their present location, while deriving some of the same benefits associated with a traditional incubator.

Small Businesses Are Important

Many economic development experts are convinced that the fastest way to increase jobs and strengthen a community’s economy is to encourage local entrepreneurs. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), “small businesses are the engine that drives our economy.” Small businesses employ about half of our entire work force. They provide more than half of the nation’s private gross domestic product and are the primary creators of new jobs. Nearly 80 percent of the new jobs created in the past six years were created by small business. Even though small business is the engine that drives our economy, the SBA reported that, “the failure rate for new small business in their first five years is 80 percent.” Although some experts believe that this figure is too high, it is clear that starting a new business is risky. The SBSC can help to reduce that risk. You can contact the SBSC by phone, email, or a visit to the office to learn more about how this center can be a resource for your business.

City of Selma Economic Development Department

 (559)891-2200 or 1-800-80-SELMA

The SBSC office is located at 1710 Tucker Street, Selma, CA 93662

Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Send an e-mail to roseanng@cityofselma.com