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The ROC Business Resource Partnership kicks off its National Small Business Week today with a series of events to increase awareness, accessibility, and engagement.
“Once upon a time, Rochester’s economy was largely dependent on large-scale manufacturers like Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb. You could throw in Gleason Works, Genesee Brewery, and Hickey Freeman to that,” says Lomax Campbell, interim CEO of the nonprofit Rochester Economic Development Corp. and Third Eye Network, a multicultural marketing and management strategy consortium. “But with the decline between the late ’70s and ’90s, it’s been small businesses carrying our economy outside of higher ed.
“In Rochester,” he adds, “we’re talking about every non-chain restaurant, every barbershop and beauty shop, we’re talking event planners, photographers, microbreweries, small-scale manufacturing.”
Small-business owners tend to live in the communities where they run their businesses and naturally contribute more to their areas in that way. They contribute to the vibrancy of neighborhoods not only financially but also by being involved in local efforts or providing spaces for the community to interact.
“I think back to how salons and barbershops were oftentimes gathering spaces or safe havens where folks could talk about issues of the day,” says Campbell.
For the last 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week each May. The decision to host the local events comes after high participation in an economic development summit held last year. Specifically, a small business expo gave Campbell more insight on moving business owners “into the pipeline” for capital and formalization, he says.
Much of NSBW was designed for current small businesses with both live events and webinars focused on topics like building network capacity, business marketing, supply chain management and tax optimization .
Other events include a panel discussion to “demystify funding processes and share resources” as well as a tour of an entrepreneurial space. This is a direct response to issues that small-business owners face.
“Small businesses have historically struggled to get access to capital because they might not have the performance history. For newer businesses, and for established small businesses, to get capital, you have to have capital,” Campbell observes. “Thinking about my role in ROCEDC, if you want to get a loan from us, you have to have 10 percent of your project.”
In addition, he notes a growth in self-started businesses in recent years, such as those primarily operated through websites like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, or other social media platforms.
Those emerging entrepreneurs can face an uphill climb when they decide to expand operations. NSBW is designed to help them make that next step.
“How do we pull them out of what seems to be the shadows and into formal operation? So then they can be part of the tax base, but then also eligible for our support,” Campbell says. “When folks say, ‘I’d like to have a storefront on Main Street,’ if they want to grow, they might not know where to start. The entrepreneur path can be a lonely one.”
Small businesses have been affected by the recent “volatile economy” on a consumption level, too, Campbell notes. As prices rise, consumers are spending less, hurting small businesses.
To that end, the “ROC City Dine Around” will highlight small, independently owned eateries that can apply to be a part of NSBW promotional activities. There will also be a curated vendor fair spotlighting local small businesses with “The Local Exchange.”
“I think it’s something we want to celebrate every year. I think this particular weeklong occasion is a catalyst for the organizations who are collaborating,” Campbell says. “But I think collaboration needs to become our modus operandi. We really have to compile our purchasing power and our programming to have a bigger impact.”
All events are hosted by organizations working with the ROC Business Resource Partnership, including ROCEDC, Third Eye Network, the Enterprise Center at Pathstone, Ibero American Action League, the Greater Rochester Black Business Alliance, Venture Jobs Foundation, the Commissary Downtown Kitchen Incubator, the Business Insight Center at the Rochester Public Library, New York Small Business Development Centers, SUNY Brockport, Nextcorps, and others.
Events will take place this week from May 5 to May 10, with online registration available here.
Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist.
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