"Business Block Parties" Help Find Answers

The Downtown Development Association (DDA) calls them “Downtown Business Block Parties” – an opportunity to bring downtown businesses together to network and, hopefully, learn something new.

The most recent Block Party—a panel discussion at the Flipside Restaurant titled “Business Assistance Options”—featured advice from several business agencies and gave more than 20 local businesses a look at what the business world is facing in the present economic climate.

Kelley Ferrante of Capital Bank told the group that the days of getting a loan without a solid business plan are virtually over.

"What's your plan," she said. "Having a well-thought-out plan is going to largely affect how we're going to be able to respond to you."

The panel—which included Rosa Andrews of the Johnston County Small Business Center; Jerry Lustig of SCORE-Raleigh Chapter; Ivan Hankins of the Small Business Administration; Geoff Harper of Four Oaks Bank; Ferrante and Downtown Development Coordinator Bruce Naegelen—said the age-old problems of having enough startup money, having enough working capital and indecision on direction are still the main problems for small businesses. They said one thing has changed, however—businesspeople have many more places to go for advice and other types of help, including Business Block Parties.

“Whatever the topic, business owners meet other business owners and find things in common that they can use to cross-promote their businesses, or they might find someone with a solution to a problem they’re having,” said Leslie Hubbard, vice chair of the DDA's Economic Restructuring Committee. "These meetings are usually always helpful in some way."

Lustig, president of the Raleigh SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Chapter, complimented Clayton's business leaders for their efforts toward greater professionalism. His organization has been working with the DDA over the last few weeks to start a SCORE chapter in Clayton. The pro-business organization offers counseling and mentor services using retired executives and business people to offer their experience and guidance to those who are either starting a new businesses or growing an existing businesses. The DDA has scheduled a presentation for perspective counselors May 19 at the Clayton Center to get the ball rolling.