Business Resources Centers: Entrepreneurial Development
OVERVIEW U.C.A. 63N-3-301 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 offer comprehensive services and ongoing 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 resources 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, 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 agency, 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 statewide, if business’s needs can’t be met within a local office, directors can access 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 education to provide private businesses with one-stop technical assistance and access to statewide resources and programs. They are formed at a local level with Governor’s Office of Economic Development • 2015 Annual Report • www.business.utah.gov
21
