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SHANI J. COLEMAN
Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
SBOP Administrator
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Greetings!
October is a month of reflection and celebration for southern Nevada. This morning the County, along with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, co-hosted our fourth annual 1 October Sunrise Remembrance ceremony in the Government Center Amphitheater. As we continue to remember those who perished in the events of 1 October 2017, we express our best wishes for every survivor and offer deep gratitude for the courage, compassion, and resilience that helps our community move forward.
In this edition of the Small Biz Update, you will find out how some simple adjustments might help to increase sales in the final quarter of this calendar year. Plus, the SBA has enhanced the EIDL loan program, and we will share a way to learn about some Latino contributions to our community this National Hispanic Heritage month.
Last but not least, find out how to join us for this month's BDAC meeting, and set aside November 6th on your calendar for a small business job fair co-hosted by Clark County, fellow government entities, DETR, and Workforce Connections. Hope to see you soon!
To your success,
Shani J. Coleman
Director, Office of Community & Economic Development
SBOP Administrator
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Need to Hire 5 or More Employees? |
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Connect With Candidates & Potential OJT Funds |
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Save the Date!
November 6, 2021
9:00am-2:00pm
The Expo at World Market Center
Clark County in conjunction with the City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, City of Henderson, DETR, and Workforce Connections will be hosting a Small Business Job & Resource Fair on November 6, 2021.
- This event is dedicated to small businesses with 100 or less employees.
- Employers will need to have a minimum of five full-time openings available at a minimum of $15 per hour to participate.
- Employers can receive funds to cover the costs of on-the-job training for new hires.
- Clark County Social Services will be on hand to address rental assistance needs
- Legal Aid of Southern Nevada will be on hand to address eviction prevention.
- SNHD will be on hand to provide COVID vaccination.
- And more!
Registration details coming soon.
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Ways to Attend
Join by video system:
Dial
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Join by phone:
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Access code: 146 613 7401
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COVID EIDL Program Offers More Flexibility |
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Increased Borrowing Limit |
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The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced it is ready to receive new applications from small business communities still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. The changes include an increase in the borrowing limit to $2 million, an offer of 24 months of deferment, and expanded flexibility to allow borrowers to pay down higher-interest business debt. In addition, the application process has been simplified.
To ensure Main Street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and the last day that applications may be received is December 31, 2021.
Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, and agricultural businesses in all U.S. states and territories can apply. Visit www.sba.gov/eidl to learn more about eligibility and application requirements.
For additional information on COVID EIDL and other recovery programs please visit www.sba.gov/relief. Small business owners may call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard of hearing) or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov for additional assistance. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. Multilingual representatives are available. Small business owners may also contact SBA’s Resource Partners by visiting www.sba.gov/local-assistance.
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Could you be Landing More Business? |
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Pointers to Sell More Effectively |
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Research has shown that almost half of all salespeople never follow up after an initial call, which leaves your business plenty of room to stand out from the crowd if you are willing to do what your competitors won’t. Of course, following up can only be fruitful if you are talking to the right audience. Before reaching out to any prospect, including Clark County Purchasing agents and end-users, your very first job is to get clarity on your ideal customer.
Small business owners often make the mistake of pitching goods and services to anyone who will listen, wasting time and resources on reaching people who will never buy because they are not the right audience. While all County departments may need basic office supplies, not all will purchase construction services. Investing time to learn in advance who can buy your goods and services can save you time and money as you focus efforts on a smaller audience, possibly with a higher sales conversion rate.
Here are some questions that can help you get started. What is your ultimate goal? Exactly what do you want to sell, and whom do you need to reach in order to build relationships with potential buyers? What do you want potential customers to think about your goods and services? How do you want potential customers to feel after you meet with them? More importantly, what do you want them to do next? The answers to these questions can help you plan an effective marketing strategy that leads to more sales.
Your initial one-on-one meeting with any prospect should focus primarily on learning about the agency’s needs and how, when, and why buy decisions are made. Use this time to give buyers a feel for who you are and how your company can solve their problems. Be sure to find out how your prospect prefers to communicate with suppliers. You can use that information to determine how you will keep in touch moving forward.
In most cases, your first meeting with a prospect will not be enough to fully demonstrate what sets you apart from all of your competitors. So how do you convey that you are qualified, capable, and the best supplier to hire when the need arises? While you want to avoid bombarding potential customers with correspondence to the point of turning them off, it is important to help them keep you top of mind until they are ready to buy. Here are some ways to help prospects remember you and get to know you better.
Follow Up Right Away
Immediately after your meeting, send any additional collateral or information promised during your meeting. Send a separate thank you note via email or traditional mail. Three or four days later, you might send a helpful article or brochure related to the goal the prospect is trying to achieve. If you have permission, add your new contact to your newsletter or email marketing list so they hear from you regularly. Schedule any next steps such as a phone call, email, or second meeting, that would be mutually beneficial while moving the relationship closer to your desired goal.
Your Website
If you offer superior customer service, higher quality, special guarantees, rare credentials, or greater innovation than the competition you want potential customers to know. Give them ways to learn more about your products and services at times that are most convenient for them. For example, intriguing videos and relevant content can be powerful tools to attract and hold a potential client's attention. Provide a link where prospects can visit your website and view assets such as:
- Online product demonstrations
- Video tutorials on how to use your products
- Video of live presentations you have given
- Virtual video tours
- Downloadable whitepapers, case studies, eBooks, and or articles you have written
- A web page or section focused on government contracting
- Industry awards or special recognition.
Social Media
If you post regularly on social media and consistently deliver valuable content for would-be customers, follow prospects and invite them to join you on social sites. Respond to relevant posts in real-time and seize opportunities to create a two-way dialogue. Engaging content can help your followers get a feel for your expertise and help you establish a reputation as a leader in your industry.
Long Term
For best results, create and automate a keep-in-touch strategy that will ensure you don’t miss opportunities to connect with prospects regularly. You can automate marketing activities to grow and nurture your audience consistently, cost-effectively, with greater ease. Countless project management and email marketing tools such as Asana, Slack, Dubsado, Infusionsoft, MailChimp, and or Constant Contact can be used to set up a system that ensures every task of your customer outreach--from a phone call to email, traditional mail, or meeting--is executed in a timely manner.
The time you invest now to clarify your goals, define your audience, and develop a sustainable keep-in-touch strategy could boost your competitive edge and make your company the first buyers think of when it is time to buy.
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State Seeks Your Input on COVID Relief Spending |
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Share Your Views on How Federal Funds Should Be Used |
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The Nevada officials are in the midst of a 75-day "Nevada Recovers Listening Tour" to get feedback from the public on how to spend and invest $6.7 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds Nevada will receive under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319). Governor Sisolak kicked off the tour in early August and there is still time to share your thoughts on how funds should be used. To get more information regarding Nevada Recovers, provide input through a public survey, and submit your ideas directly to the Governor's Office visit NevadaRecovers.com.
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Celebrating Latino Contributions |
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate U.S. Latinos, their culture, and history. In observance, we invite you to enjoy "Celebrating Latino Contributions", an episode of the County podcast Cultures of Las Vegas.
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U.S. SBA
TIME MANAGEMENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS - A 3-PART SERIES
October 12, 19, & 26, 2021 - 12:00pm-1:30pm (PDT)
This 3-session course, hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, is designed to look at how we approach time management and explore different techniques that will provide participants with new ways of thinking about our time, workflow, and prioritization strategies. Our three sessions will involve reviewing and discussing time management frameworks and techniques, experimenting with these techniques, and learning from peers as to what they have found helpful in their experience. Participants will come away with resources and experiences to help empower and guide how they utilize their time going forward.
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NEVADA SBDC
TIME TO FIND YOUR BAIL TEAM
October 20, 2021 - 9:00am-10:00am
The acronym BAIL stands for banker, accountant, insurance agent, and legal. Having a BAIL team behind you can make your business work for you instead of the other way around. Nevada SBDC is hosting this BAIL panel discussion about the benefits of having a BAIL Team and how to find one that works for you. The session will also include a Commercial Broker to answer all your lease/purchase/lease-to-purchase questions.
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SCORE
HOW TO FUND YOUR BUSINESS IN TODAY'S WORLD
October 30, 2021 - 9:00am
Money is essential to successfully operate a small business. Money is required to support innovation, market to your target, fund capital investment, and of course pay bills. Whether you are starting your business or a current business operator, knowing how to fund your business is a key to achieving growth and profitability. During this seminar, an experienced SCORE volunteer will provide ideas and information relating to bank lending, SBA guarantees, and internet loan sources. In addition, information on growth in crowdfunding, angel and equity financing - both private and governmental - will be covered.
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If you offer information, resources, or events designed to help local small businesses succeed please let us know. Your story might be shared in an SBOP newsletter.
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Questions About Doing Business with Clark County
Please email Purchasing and Contracts at
Questions About SBOP
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Keep Your Business Profile Up To Date |
If your business contact information has changed since you first signed up for a Clark County small business training program or newsletter, please provide your new information using the "Update Profile" link at the end of this email. Never miss out on new updates that can help you grow your business!
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Stay in the Loop!
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Small Business Updates from SBOP
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Sign up to receive information and resources that can help you grow your small business! |
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