Business Resources Centers – Entrepreneurial Development
BUSINESS RESOURCES CENTERS: ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT
U.C.A. 63N-3-301 Business Resource Centers (BRCs) are convenient “one-stop-shops” to address the needs of new or growing businesses. Through on-site or overthe-phone assessments with clients, BRCs offer comprehensive services and ongoing assistance to help businesses expand. Formed in partnership with a local college or university, 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 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), and the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) agency. In addition, investors, microloan organizations, business incubators, chambers of commerce, local economic development organizations and resources are available at the local educational sponsor. Because BRCs are interconnected statewide, directors can access fellow centers to find a solution for a specific business.
FY 2016 Summary In addition to the day-to-day counseling with business owners and connecting them with service providers, BRCs across Utah pursued interesting projects in FY 2016. The San Juan BRC led out in the creation of the Online Artisan Project, a virtual marketplace for talented craftspeople and Native American artisans. The SUU BRC moved to a new Governor’s Office of Economic Development • 2016 Annual Report • www.business.utah.gov
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