Business Resource Centers: Entrepreneurial Development

OVERVIEW U.C.A. 63M-1-2704 Business Resource Centers (BRCs) are convenient “one-stop-shops” for addressing the needs of a new or growing business. Through a friendly staff and on-site or over the phone assessment with clients, BRCs can offer a plethora of service options and on-going assistance to help businesses grow. BRCs house various business service providers in a single location and the on-site staff is equipped to answer questions ranging from business planning to finding funding and much, much, more. BRC staffs coordinate the services of local business service provider partners to make the delivery of solutions more effective for the business customer. BRCs are tailored to the local community they serve and have service providers who are experts in their fields. Some of the partners found at the BRCs include the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) which is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) which provides governmental contracting assistance, Manufacturers Extension Partnership (MEP), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative, investors, microloan organizations, business incubators, chambers of commerce, local economic development organizations and resources available at the local educational sponsor. And because BRCs are interconnected state-wide, if businesses needs can’t be met within their local office, directors can access their fellow centers to find a solution.

During the 2008 General Session, the Utah State Legislature provided for the establishment and administration of business resource centers. Business Resource Centers (BRC) are entities established by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) in partnership with the state public institutions of higher educations to provide private businesses with one-stop technical assistance and

access to statewide resources and programs. They are formed at a local level with partners who are federal, state, county, city, public or private business service providers. THOUSANDS of unique business customers have visited Utah BRCs, creating or retaining HUNDREDS of jobs and starting over 100 businesses! In addition, over 10,000 business personnel visited all of the business partners operating out of the BRCs.

Currently there are 14 Business Resource Centers (BRC) operating across Utah

For BRC contact information, see Resource Section at back of report. • Cache BRC in Logan • Box Elder County BRC in Brigham City • North Front BRC in Kaysville • Zions BRC in Salt Lake City • Tooele BRC in Tooele • Park City BRC in Park City • Heber Valley BRC in Heber City • Miller BRC in Sandy • Utah Valley University BRC in Orem • Uintah Basin BRC in Vernal • Castle Country BRC in Price • Moab BRC in Moab • Southern Utah University BRC in Cedar City • Dixie BRC in St. George

The Northfront Business Resource Center at the Davis Applied Technology Center in Kaysville, Utah, provides one-stop access to key partners in business incubation and growth.

For additional information about Business Resource Centers visit business.utah.gov or contact Vincent E. Mikolay, Managing Director, at vmikolay@utah.gov or 801-538-8799