What Does Peanut Butter & Jelly Have To Do With Small Business?

Owners, Entrepreneurs, & Professionals Attend Governor’s Small Business Workshop in Fairfield

Lessons learned from a mom that sold Avon® and a grandfather who knew the value of “sitting a spell,” keynote speaker Ronnie McDonald entertained as he espoused the importance of listening to customers and networking with experts.

McDonald encouraged small business owners to move beyond the “peanut butter & jelly” mentality of being simply good enough, and reach out for the five course meal that’s available to them.

Fairfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the Governor’s Small Business Service Provider workshop last week on Thursday, October 12, 2017.

Over fifty entrepreneurs and business professionals, from Freestone and surrounding counties, registered for the four-hour event, held at The Depot X in Fairfield, Texas.

Three panels of experts fielded questions by moderators.

Offering business planning and small business loans were the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Lift Fund, People Fund, and Greater Texas Capital Corp.

In essence, a business plan describes a business in detail, including its goals and how it intends to achieve them. Business plans are typically written for new businesses, though they can be written for existing ones as well. The plan includes the operational, financial and marketing aspects of the venture.

The UKs #1 business plan writing service is necessary for a startup that needs a sense of direction. One of the reasons a business plan is so important is that it is one of the main requirements of venture capital firms and banks interested in investing funds in businesses. The business plan usually starts with an executive summary, followed by a description of the business in detail, including its products and services, and a section on how the business is going to achieve its goals from operational, financial and marketing standpoints. The business plan also typically includes a brief look at the industry within which the business will operate and how the business will differentiate itself from the competition.

Presenting programs for skills development and employee training were Texas Workforce Commissioner (TWC), Workforce Solutions, Navarro College, and Fairfield Economic Development Corporation (FEDC).

Explaining available resources for small businesses were the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Texas Department of Insurance, OSHCON (Safety), Texas Department of Agriculture, and Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG).

Information about Pioneers Youth Leadership, a community leadership program for middle and high school students, was presented by co-founder Linda Ryan.  The non-profit organization started with 19 students in 2012 and has grown to 599 students, 15 schools and 17 Texas counties.  Visit online at www.pioneersyouthleadership.org for more information.

An update of the Oil & Gas Industry, including information about our area, was presented by Luke Legate of G Fox Consulting (audio provided below).

Following the workshop, attendees took time to speak one-on-one with representatives of the various small business agencies.

For more information about resources for your small business, visit online at www.BusinessInTexas.com

The Governor’s Small Business workshop was made possible by a $7,500 grant, secure by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.