MAHONING VALLEY is for entrepreneurs Your guide to business development resources in the Mahoning Valley. Mahoning Valley is for Entrepreneurs is a collaboration of organizations, working together to provide better support for local entrepreneurs. Each of our organizations offer business assistance services, and we recognize it can be confusing determining where to go or who to call. Whether you’ve been in business for decades, or simply have a unique idea, all business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs have questions and we’re here to help. We’re working hard to streamline information and access to our resources so that it is easier for you to find what you’re looking for. IDEA STARTUP EMERGING MATURE BUSINESS BUSINESS You have dreams of You have a written You have been an You have been an starting a business, business plan and are active business for at active business for but don’t know newly operational least two years. several years. where to start. Ideas and/or ready to make Your business stage may determine what resources should complete your first sale. are available to you. We’ve identified what services initial business are available to help entrepreneurs develop an idea, planning to move to launch a startup, or grow an emerging or the next stage. mature business. IDEA Are you interested in starting a business? If so, we recommend checking out a Start Up Workshop at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County that shows you what it takes to start a business and all of the things that one must consider before jumping in. Additionally, there are several workshops and courses available throughout the area. For more information, we recommend that you contact the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. In order to start a business, we recommend that you do the following three things: 1. Organize Your Personal Finances 2. Take part in a workshop or course to learn about resources available and necessary steps. 3. Write a business plan. Personal Idea Initial Business Organization Finance Development Planning BIC √ √ Common Wealth, Inc. ** Food-Related Businesses √ The Legal Creative ** Artists & Arts-Related Businesses √ SCORE Youngstown √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ Women in Entrepreneurship √ √ YBI ** Tech/Digital Businesses √ √ YNDC √ √ √ Updated May 2017 2 CAPITAL Capital includes the identification of available funding sources, predominately via loans. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ Common Wealth, Inc. ** Food-Related Businesses √ √ ECDI √ √ √ MVEDC √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ NEODFA √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ √ WRAP √ √ √ YWRC √ √ YBI ** Tech/Digital Businesses √ √ √ Youngstown, Department of Community Planning & Economic Development √ √ √ 3 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Financial Analysis includes cash flow forecasts for loan applications and financial planning. It also may include financial modeling and analysis to examine the current profitability of a business and charts possible future business scenarios. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ GROWTH BUSINESS PLANNING Growth Business Planning is advanced planning to assist with strategic development and expansion, including identifying new market opportunities. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ MV PTAC √ MBAC √ √ √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ SCORE Youngstown √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ √ 4 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT Intellectual Property Assessment is a preliminary review of patenting to determine potential markets for products and necessary next steps. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ √ √ YBI ** Tech/Digital Businesses √ √ INTERNATIONAL SALES International Sales includes export assistance and information on international trade. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ MBAC √ √ Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at YSU √ √ YWRC √ √ 5 LEGAL ASSISTANCE Legal Assistance includes services such as incorporation, taxation, contracting, employment, government regulation, and others. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ √ The Legal Creative **Artists & Arts-Related Businesses √ √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ SEED Legal Clinic √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ LICENSING & PERMITS Licensing & Permits includes a review of federal, state, and local documents and certifications needed for varying types of busineses to legally function. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ √ Common Wealth, Inc. ** Food-Related Businesses √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ √ Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at YSU √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ √ √ Youngstown, Department of Community Planning & Economic Development √ √ √ 6 OFFICE & PRODUCTION SPACE Office & Production Space includes the availability of space for business development such as shared workspaces. It may also include access to equipment. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ √ Common Wealth, Inc. ** Food-Related Businesses √ √ √ Oak Hill Collaborative √ √ TBEIC ** Energy-Related Businesses √ √ √ √ WRAP √ √ √ YBI ** Tech/Digital Businesses √ √ √ ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT Organizational Management includes the development of roles, responsibilities, accountability, and sustainability within the executive and organizational management structure. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ MBAC √ √ 7 PERSONAL FINANCE Personal Finance includes learning and improving upon financial reports to build credit. Particularly for early-stage businesses, loan accessibility is dependent upon personal finances. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature YNDC √ √ √ √ PROCUREMENT Procurement includes identifying and securing military and other federal, state, and local government contracts. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ MV PTAC √ √ MBAC √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ 8 REAL ESTATE ASSISTANCE Real Estate Assistance includes identifying properties and spaces based on defined needs. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ WRAP √ √ √ YWRC √ √ √ Youngstown, Department of Community Planning & Economic Development √ √ √ 9 RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Research & Development includes evaluating markets for details such as competition, potential customers, and market size. For emerging businesses it may include domestic and international trade market research and export consulting. For mature businesses it may also include supply chain management to most efficiently and cost-effectively use capital in the production process. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ √ MV PTAC √ MBAC √ √ √ Oak Hill Collaborative √ √ √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network at YSU √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ √ √ Women in Entrepreneurship √ √ √ √ YWRC √ √ √ YBI *** Tech/Digital Businesses √ √ √ √ 10 SALES & MARKETING Sales & Marketing includes building a brand and developing a targeted marketing strategy. For more advanced businesses it may include information on new market expansion. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ √ Common Wealth, Inc. ** Food-Related Businesses √ √ √ MV PTAC √ MBAC √ √ √ Ohio SBDC at YSU √ √ √ SCORE Youngstown √ √ √ √ TBEIC ** Energy/Allied Product Businesses √ √ YBI ** Tech/Digital Businesses √ WORKFORCE Workforce includes matching employer needs with hiring services and resources for skill development. Organization Idea Startup Emerging Mature BIC √ √ √ MBAC √ √ √ YWRC √ √ √ 11 Business and Investment Center, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (BIC) A resource for information on business, finance, trade, demographics, and other data and technical assistance. The Center often provides workshops available through the library’s calendar. Address Phone URL Email 305 Wick Ave., (330) 744-8636 http://www.libraryvisit.org/research/ [email protected] Youngstown, OH 44503 business-resources/ Business Resource Network (BRN) The Business Resource Network (BRN) is a collaboration of workforce and economic development organizations, universities, career and technical centers, chambers of commerce, along with state and local government agencies that provides a full range of targeted business services and programs in a comprehensive unique way. Address Phone URL Email 141 Boardman-Canfield Road, (330) 965-1785 http://www.thebrn.net/ cbresnahan@onestopohio. Boardman, OH 44512 org Common Wealth, Inc. & Common Wealth Kitchen Incubator Common Wealth, Inc. & Common Wealth Kitchen Incubator host a shared-use commercial kitchen that aims to lower the cost for starting or expanding local food businesses. Address Phone URL Email 1221 Elm St. (330) 746-9811 http://www.cwkitchenincuba- [email protected] Youngstown, OH 44505 tor.org/ Economic and Community Development Institute ECDI is a Small Business Administration (SBA) intermediary micro-lender and community development financial institution (CDFI) with the mission of investing in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change. ECDI assists the Mahoning Valley through its Akron office. 12 Address Phone URL Email Akron Global Business Accelerator (330) 888-3119 https://www.ecdi.org/ [email protected] 526 S. Main St. Akron 44311 The Legal Creative The Legal Creative provides pro bono legal clinics where