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Show Page 13 HELPING UTAH START AND GROW BUSINESS Truly, Utah is a great place to start a business. In fact, Utah ranks near the top for business startups generated each year. Unfortunately, Utah ranks near the bottom (46th out of the 50 states) for business retention, says Fred Lange, director of procurement technical assistance centers (PTAC) for the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). It's a known fact that within five years most new startups are out of business. Now, however, GOED is hoping to reverse that trend through an initiative called "Utah Business Link," which would establish collaborative Business Resource Centers in strategic geographical locations throughout the state and a virtual center on the Internet. The objective of the centers is to provide one-stop guidance services to startups and existing businesses in the areas of business support, education, funding, training, and networking. Utah Business Link is the brand name and title of the virtual Business Resource Center currently in development. Lange says the virtual center will make extensive business assistance information available online through the Internet. For example, a new or existing business could apply for services, access guidance or obtain business development information before traveling to a physical Business Resource Center location. Funding for Utah Business Link was discussed during the 2006 Legislative session, but unfortunately the session ended before it could come up for a vote. Lange says GOED has received assurances the vote will occur in the Legislature's upcoming special session this May. If approved, Utah Business Link would have $500,000 annually to progressively establish as many as 11 Business Resource Centers and satellite offices at strategic locations throughout the state. The Business Resource Centers will be public/private joint ventures drawing together the resources of multiple federal, state, and local agencies, along with private enterprises. Some of the organiza- tions and agencies with interest in the Business Resource Centers include: • The SBA's small business development centers (SBDC) • GOED's procurement technical assistance centers (PTAC—provides assistance for Utah companies seeking to obtain government contracts) • The Salt Lake chapter Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) • The Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund • Utah Supplier Development Council (USDC) • 1\vo Business Resource Centers—one in Sandy at Salt Lake Community College's Larry H. Miller Campus, and* one in Kaysville across from the Davis Applied Technology Center—should be ready to begin operation by June. Lange says the Davis center is being located through funds donated by the David Simmons family. GOED's goal is to cover the state with Business Resource Centers by 2007. Some of the locations may include: Logan, Brigham City, V ernal, Price, Ephraim, Cedar City, St. George, Possibly Ogden ("We would not bypass Ogden," Lange says.) and Salt Lake Each physical location will have the Utah Business Link brand plus a localized naming convention. For example, a Business Resource Center in Logan would be called: Utah Business Link Logan Business Resource Center In January Zions Bank launched a Business Resource Center in downtown Salt Lake City, much the same as the Business Resource Center effort underway by GOED. In fact, Lange says GOED is working with Zions Bank to align the centers so they offer similar services, with expert staff and access to additional public/private business development resources. Ultimately, GOED expects the online Utah Business Link and network of local Business Resource Centers to become an invaluable support to Utah's entrepreneurial spirit, making the state a great place to start—and grow—a business. 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YARDLEY be retained «****» in the office of County Justlco Court Judge of Garfield County? 'X' CURE U. RAMSAY i , Write-in COUNTY ASSESSOR (Vote for One) OOJOETHOMPSOW , - Write-in •'—j YES ONO ftowcw COUNTY ATTORNEY (Vota for One) X BARRY LHUNTWGTON WOWUCMI f-; Write* COUNTY CLERK / AUDITOR (Vote for One) r?C CAMUE A. UOORE . - Wrttwn HPI*C«I COUNTY RECORDER/ SURVEYOR (Vote for One) iXLESBARKER HEPUBIEAH i Write-in COUNTY SHERIFF (Vote lor One) OC DANNY PERKKS O Writ**) MEASURES SUBMITTED TO VOTERS «««C*J. KPUUCA* Shall JILL N. PARRiSH be retained In KHOCMIK the office ol Justice of the Supreme Court ol Utah? COUNTY COMMISSIONER -B(Vote (or Orw) I 0 0 JUOY P. HENRIE -.Write* «"•«" STATE SCHOOL BOARD STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT 14 (Vote for On*) ODttlE ALIEN -Writwn LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4 (Vote lor One) O BARTON PALMER O KENNETH G.PLATT - nftte* SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 5 (Vote for One) O GLADYS U-FEVRE O LEWS LEMAR BARNEY oWritofli Elect Lewis Barney for Garfield County School Board "Giving You A Better Option For Your Mortgage Needs" • Construction Loans •Lot Loans • Purchases • Refinance NOVEMBER 2,2006 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER During my y ears of school, I have come to appreciate the importance of a good education. I would like to serve as y our representative on the Garfield County School Board to help assure that my children, and the students at all of the schools in Garfield County , have access to the best education possible. • Graduated from Panguitch High, 1989 • Bachelors of Science In Nursing from Weber State University • Masters of Science in Anesthesia from Way ne State University Detroit,Michigan • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Garfield Memorial Hospital |