Small Businesses in Fairfield Co. Offered Training on Preparing for Disasters

SCORE Fairfield County has partnered with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) and 16 partner organizations throughout Fairfield County as part of the PrepareCT initiative to reach and educate more than 80,000 Connecticut small businesses with training, information, and assistance in how to prepare and recover from disasters that could disrupt their businesses.

CTSBDC has received a grant to develop and implement a Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Both CTSBDC and Score are resource partners of the Small Business Administration [SBA].

The Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan [PrepareCT] will provide small businesses with education, training and resiliency preparation related to disasters and disruption - the why, when, and how to prepare for an event.

Additionally, a comprehensive database of Connecticut’s small businesses will be developed in order to quickly provide alerts, and access to information, protocols and procedures related to preparedness and recovery.

“The goal of this program is to reduce the likelihood of disruption and shorten the time it takes for small businesses to recover – thereby saving jobs and maintaining economic vitality in Connecticut communities when disasters strike,“ states Joe Ercolano, Associate Director of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC).

“Working with Score and other small business support organizations throughout Connecticut, “ noted Ercolano,” this program will educate and train small businesses through in-person and online workshops, seminars and materials in disaster readiness and recovery focused on disaster preparedness.

Brian Baxendale, Chair of the Fairfield County Chapter of Score, which provides free small business counseling, stated: “We are excited about working with the CTSBDC as a project partner to help deliver this important information and training to small businesses in the County through workshops, training sessions, and in one-on-one counseling with our existing and new small business clients.”

For more information about the Connecticut Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Plan contact The Connecticut Small Business Development Center at www.ctsbdc.com or SCORE at www.scorenorwalk.org.

About the Connecticut Small Business Development Center:

The Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) whose mission is to build, sustain, and promote small business development and enhance local economies by creating businesses and jobs.

With over 900 locations across the country, SBDCs offer no-cost, one-on-one expert business advice and low-cost training by qualified small business professionals to existing and future entrepreneurs. In addition, the SBDC offers special focus areas in green business technology, disaster recovery and preparedness, international trade assistance, veteran’s assistance, technology transfer, and regulatory compliance.

The Connecticut SBDC is headquartered at the University of Connecticut with regional service centers located throughout the state. For more information visit www.ctsbdc.com or call toll-free, 1-855-428-7232 for updates and more information.

About SCORE:

SCORE is a nonprofit association that offers free and confidential advice on starting your own business or improving and growing your existing small business. All 100 business experienced and expert counselors in SCORE Fairfield County are volunteers and give their time and expertise freely.

SCORE Fairfield County will be running workshops throughout the communities of Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Wilton, Norwalk, Weston and Westport. For more information on upcoming free workshops and how to schedule a free small business mentoring session with our counselors, visit www.scorenorwalk.org or call 203 831 0065.

Would You Like To Become A Score Volunteer?

Your business knowledge and experience can help others start or grow a small business. Learn more about becoming a SCORE volunteer at: www.score.org/volunteer

Photo credit: SCORE Fairfield County website