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Free business mentoring group to get started in Fredericksburg Date published: 2/19/2009
BY EMILY BATTLE Good business advice that doesn't come with a big price tag can be tough to find. That's why Doug Cantrell had no problem driving all the way to Richmond to get a volunteer with the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association, or SCORE, to look at a business plan he had written to expand his small business, Big Daddy Leather, located on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg. "They pointed out a few things that I might want to tweak before I sent it off to the bank," Cantrell said. He thinks those changes were part of the reason he got approved for a financing package to expand his business into the Richmond market--a move he's now delaying because of the economy. Cantrell was excited to learn that a SCORE chapter is in the works for Fredericksburg, meaning business owners won't have to drive to Richmond, Charlottesville or Washington to take advantage of its services. Catherine McDermott, executive director of the Rappahannock Economic Development Corp., has asked the Richmond chapter of SCORE to help start a similar group based in Fredericksburg. SCORE provides free and confidential counseling to small businesses and people who want to start their own businesses. It is a nationwide nonprofit that connects volunteers with long-term experience in business with small business owners seeking advice. About 11,000 volunteers provide these services for the 389 SCORE chapters throughout the country. McDermott said she had lots of phone calls from local businesses looking for advice on everything from marketing to budgeting when she started at REDCO six months ago. Starting March 1, volunteers with the Richmond chapter of SCORE will be available, by appointment, to provide mentoring services and other help to local business owners. SCORE volunteers can help with developing business plans, looking for financing, marketing and other questions. SCORE also puts on seminars where, for a small fee, business owners can learn about specific topics. Interested business owners should call REDCO at 540/373-2897 to set up an appointment. In addition, McDermott and the Richmond volunteers will work to recruit experienced executives and business owners from the Fredericksburg area who can volunteer to be business counselors. The hope is that these volunteers will form the basis for starting a freestanding Fredericksburg chapter of SCORE. Cantrell said it's a worthy service that will be good to have closer to home. "It seems like every time you go you learn something," he said. Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
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