Page 10 - Delaware County Chamber of Commerce - 2017/2018 Directory

A Thriving Business Community
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES
Helping Hands
DPublic, Private Groups Support New and Growing Businesses
DELAWARE COUNTY SPORTS A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. Numerous public and private organizations try to promote and preserve this environment by offering marketing assistance, business guidance, loans and concrete services, such as space-sharing, to new and existing businesses alike.
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce offers membership to small and large businesses alike, providing connections to fellow businesses through networking,
soft introductions, visibility and recognition. The Chamber partners with many of the organizations below to provide members with seminars and tools to succeed and grow. There are also Member-to-Member
Discounts available, just for being a Chamber member.
Foundation of the
Delaware County
Chamber (FDCC)
is the 501(c)3 arm of
the Delaware County
Chamber and conducts
Leadership Delaware
County, a program for
businesses to grow employees
that’s been in existence since 1989. The
mission of the FDCC is to advance business, leadership and education, while recognizing that youth are the leaders of tomorrow. Applications for Leadership Delaware County are requested in August.
The Delaware County Commerce Center is a centralized location for business and economic development information
and assistance. This award-winning agency operates as an umbrella organization for
the administration of various economic development boards and authorities, including
the Economic Development Oversight Board, the Industrial Development Authority, the Industrial Development Corporation and the Redevelopment Authority.
Delaware County Edge Accelerator started in 2016 as a partnership between the Delaware County Commerce Center, HeadRoom (see below) and SCORE (see below) to provide incubator services to qualifying small businesses for up to 36 months, provided that they remain in the county three years after completing the
program. Each chosen business has full access to HeadRoom’s offices,
business counseling and administrative-support services
and workshops. In addition, Edge Accelerator companies will receive counseling and training from SCORE
mentors. The first businesses to participate in this program were
selected in early 2017.
HeadRoom, itself a relatively new business, is a provider of premium
co-working space in Media and Wayne, offering part-time use of private offices, conference facilities, live phone reception and many other support services.
SCORE, in Chester and Delaware counties, has more than 100 volunteers to assist those considering starting a business or business owners who need help expanding. Supported by the Small Business Administration, SCORE is a national nonprofit association with volunteers who serve as counselors, advisors and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.
Images courtesy of Villanova University
Delaware County Human Resource Association educates professionals on
the principles, methods, policies and ethics
of human resource management; provides networking opportunities; and promotes charitable/community involvement.
The Villanova ICE Institute provides scholastic, educational and professional development opportunities in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE). The institute has a multidisciplinary focus and seeks to advance the university’s mission by fostering cross-college learning and embedding entrepreneurial thinking more deeply in the Villanova culture.
The Widener University Small Business Development Center provides one-to-one consulting services and educational programs and seminars to new and existing businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania. During the summer of 2017, the center relocated to the Leslie
C. Quick Center on the Widener campus in West Chester. The center’s network services have helped small firms raise start-up and expansion capital, launch new companies and sell Pennsylvania products and services worth billions of dollars throughout the world.
The Delaware County Library System has numerous resources for both employers and employees. The system has a Digital Library Business Collection with downloadable eBooks to help small businesses find tips from every possible angle. The library system’s website provides links to other state and federal resources and to employment opportunities.
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