Some community college programs help you apply for state grants to build your business with the broader aim of boosting local employment. Bennett matched that grant, which the college administered. In part, it paid for full-time consulting help to streamline production systems. The company just received its second, yearlong grant and is about to add another full-time counselor. Bennett says that without Fisher's involvement, she never would have heard about the state grant program.
Community colleges can be a lifeline for small companies at various stages of their development.
Suddenly, my business plan didn't fit,'' says Crinnian. This time, she turned to Maricopa Community College's Small Business Development Center in Phoenix for help refocusing her five-person company. At no charge, Crinnian met weekly for six months with her counselor, who helped her revamp her business plan and taught her how to bargain with distributors and software manufacturers. Thanks to the free advice, she's bringing in about three new clients a month, up from just one a month, or less, two years ago. Community colleges also can help with retraining, a key concern in today's tight labor market.