The Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship at the Tech Garden, SBA and SBDC
partner to offer monthly "Green Business Development Days"

The Tech Garden, in conjunction with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the NYS Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Onondaga Community College (OCC) are launching monthly "Green Business Development Days" for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The sessions will provide free one-on-one counseling for start-ups or early stage companies in clean and renewable technologies. Entrepreneurs and business owners will be able to meet with a business counselor from the SBDC from OCC to obtain advice about business planning, financing, access to federal contracts and other SBA programs.

"Green Business Development" counseling sessions will be 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Tech Garden. Meetings are by appointment and can be arranged by calling the CleanTech Center at the Tech Garden, 315-579-0028.

The schedule for 2009 "Green Business Development Days" is:
June 3
July 1
August 5
September 2
October 7
November 4
December 2

"This is a great partnership," said Linda Hartsock, director of the Tech Garden's CleanTech Center. "It gives entrepreneurs and small business owners direct access to a comprehensive network of financial, planning and management services that can help them start and grow green businesses. SBA and SBDC programs are a wonderful compliment to the Tech Garden's core strengths in early stage seed, angel and venture capital, providing a broad spectrum of services to this fast-growing sector of the economy."

"In addition to business advisement for entrepreneurs and small businesses, the SBDC at OCC will provide advisement in the areas of energy and sustainability," according to Patricia Higgins, Regional Director, Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College. "We've been involved in this effort for over a year now, and look forward to the opportunity to expand the outreach of our Green Business Advisor through "Green Business Development Days" at The Tech Garden."

About the SBDC
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) based at Onondaga Community College (OCC) is one of 24 regional centers located across the state providing technical assistance to entrepreneurs and existing small businesses. The SBDC receives funding from three sources: the US Small Business Administration, New York State, and the State University of New York. Specializing in one-to-one counseling, the SBDC offers assistance to business owners in areas such as: startup assistance; feasibility assessments; business plan development; bookkeeping, accounting and financial controls; financial models and forecasting; sources of financing; market analysis, sales and marketing plans; and general research. The SBDC has access to faculty and staff, and resources of private and public consultants, agencies and the National Small Business Development Center Research Network.For more information:
www.onondagasbdc.org sbdc@sunyocc.edu; Phone: (315) 498-6070

About the SBA
The SBA helps provide access to capital for businesses who might otherwise find it difficult to obtain financing on reasonable terms by reducing the risk to lenders through SBA loan guarantees. The SBA loan guarantee program has recently been enhanced and many SBA fees have been eliminated or reduced through the federal stimulus program, making SBA programs even more attractive for small businesses and entrepreneurs. A federal priority has also been recently established for "green" businesses, creating even more flexibility for companies in clean and renewable technology sectors. Beyond the SBA's traditional loan guarantee programs, other specialized programs include loans for women and minority business owners, loans for short-term working capital, export working capital financing, international trade loans, and micro loans for small-scale financing purposes such as inventory and supplies. The SBA can also provide technical assistance in terms of government contract procurement.For more information: www.sba.gov/ny;  (315) 471-9393

About The Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship
The CleanTech Center is a NYSERDA-funded initiative located at the Tech Garden. Designed to support the incubation and acceleration of clean technology companies in Upstate New York, The Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship will help connect entrepreneurs and early stage companies with technical and financial resource providers. Clean technology is an emerging sector of a range of products, services and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, reducing the depletion of natural resources and reducing or eliminating pollution and waste to create sustainable and secure energy sources. Clean technology encompasses advancements in solar power, wind power, hybrid vehicles, fuel cell technology, tidal and wave power, bio-diesel, green building materials and water treatment systems. Clean technology promises to become a $156 billion market within 10 years, according to research by Clean Edge, Inc. As the sixth largest investment category in the U.S. and Canada, clean technology holds the promise of new business opportunities, job creation, and technological innovation. For more information: www.thetechgarden.com; (315) 570-0028

About The Tech Garden
The Tech Garden serves high-technology entrepreneurs across Central Upstate New York, offering mentoring and support services in an award-winning 33,000 sq. ft. incubation facility in downtown Syracuse. It is also home to the Seed Capital Fund of CNY, an organization which assists start-ups by providing early-stage funding and investor management support. The Tech Garden is a division of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, a member organization of 2,100 businesses that represent over 140,000 employees, dedicated to creating an economic climate that enhances the growth, prosperity and quality of life for the region. For more information:
www.thetechgarden.com; (315) 474-0910