MONTEREY – An effort to connect small business owners and local entrepreneurs with the free business services and resources available in the area has been started by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Acting CEO Monica Lal said that as an essential resource for the business community, the chamber offers its members an organization larger than a single company that represents and defends the interests of members.
“We have an active close relationship with the Free Trade Services through our Education and Workforce Committee, chamber staff and volunteer leaders who do the daily work that many men do. business people just don’t have the time to do it, ”Lal said. “Many members, especially small businesses, don’t have the time to keep up with all the resources available. The chamber does a great service to these members by being their eyes and ears, and their voice.
The Business Resource Connection Center is located in the Monterey Peninsula Chamber office at 353 Camino El Estero in Monterey and is open the first and third Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary and virtual meetings are also available.
“Throughout the pandemic, our offices have remained open,” Lal said. “We answered phone calls from members and non-members and used available resources to provide real-time loan and grant information to our community. We worked with the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the City of Monterey and private donors to coordinate the Small Business Relief Fund.
Regarding the virtual meeting capacity offered by the center, Lal said the chamber is fortunate to have an office with hybrid meeting capabilities, an investment the organization made last year to continue its engagement with members and committees during the current pandemic.
The center is staffed with various resource partners including representatives from Cal Coastal Small Business Development Center, Monterey County Women’s Business Center, El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, Regional Monterey Bay Procurement Technical Assistance Center, SCORE Central Coast, from the NorCal Veterans Business Outreach Center and the Monterey County Workforce Development Board.
Lal said the chamber’s education and workforce committee has reached out directly to community partners to set up the Business Resource Connection Center to publicize the free services, many of which are funded. by taxes.
“I thought it was critically important to have our office available to the community,” Lal said.
The Business Resource Connection Center is available to any small business, non-profit, or potential owner from the Monterey Peninsula looking to start a business in the area. Connection center representatives will provide information on business services such as free counseling sessions, access to mentors, human resource advice, help with getting loans, how to develop a business plan, and many other resources available free of charge through its partner agencies.
“We want to inform the community, especially since the grants (Paycheque Protection Program) are closed and companies can re-evaluate after these many tumultuous months, that there are many resources, that with a little of their own initiative, they can access them free of charge, ”said Lal. “According to one of our partners who dominated the center yesterday, it is not uncommon to hear from companies ‘I would have liked to know that 10 years ago’. Now is the time to contact these experts. We also have bilingual capabilities.
