News release from Mayor Bill Finch:
In celebration of National Small Business Week, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch Thursday morning will host a roundtable discussion at the Bridgeport Innovation Center, 955 Connecticut Avenue, highlighting resources and services available to small businesses and entrepreneurs that are doing business in the Park City. In addition, the group will discuss what the City can do to further help job creators.
“Small businesses and entrepreneurs serve as engines that help drive Bridgeport’s economy forward,” said Mayor Finch. “To help fuel these engines, the city has a vast array of resources available. And, we want to ensure small businesses and entrepreneurs know what these services are available and how to use them, in addition to finding other ways that we can continue helping job creators. That’s why I’m excited to be hosting this event.”
The City of Bridgeport has been working hard to be increasingly business friendly under Mayor Finch’s Administration, helping to create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses, while growing existing ones. By providing access to mentoring, training, and resources, the City’s Small, Minority Business Resource Office has successfully awarded millions of dollars to minority and women-owned businesses to date. In 2013, the Office registered 130 minority and women-owned small businesses eager to create jobs in the City, and hosted nearly 50 workshops and conferences that included more than 1,000 attendees in total.
Lennie, thanks for the drivel, I mean news release. “We’re from the government and we are here to help.” The only jobs created are the people who work, I mean who are on the city payroll in the small and minority business office.
Lennie, please name them.
Like going to a priest for marriage counseling.
“In 2013, the Office registered 130 minority and women-owned small businesses eager to create jobs in the City, and hosted nearly 50 workshops and conferences that included more than 1,000 attendees in total.”
Oversight? Monitoring? Cost/benefit?
1) Perhaps we might have a look at the list of 130 small businesses. Their fields of endeavor. And the potential number and kinds of JOBS they were “eager to create.” How many are present today with the same eagerness?
2) How many received City support and in what regard?
3) One thousand attendees to 50 meetings averages 20 names per session. What was the City cost to attend and/or set up those meetings? Are all 1,000 cited City residents? Are they discrete individuals or would there be examples of getting counted multiple times?
If you seek more info on the City Small & Minority Business Office you can search out page 119 of the City Proposed Budget document. At the top of the page are SERVICE INDICATORS for the past 5-6 years. Of course you will see “Attendance at Public Awareness Events” but info on the “bottom line” for the past three years is not shown for VALUE OF CONTRACTS AWARDED.
It is very interesting, or curious, depending upon your viewpoint, the Mayor was questioned on that subject by a member of the BOE on Monday evening. The large amount of school contracts has been an opportunity for local businesses. The Mayor had an answer but really did not provide anything that can be researched by going on a City site.
What does Mayor Bill know about operating a small business? He may know receiving and maintaining a source of funds from taxpayers is of interest to many small and large businesses, and they will favor officials who seem business-friendly. But about operating such a business for the long haul and doing so profitably? What wisdom can he offer? Time will tell.
Good God. And thanks for the details. Unfortunately, a government should never tell anyone how to run a business, only help set one up in compliance with the law.
Politicians on the whole are generally inept as the work (such as it is) they do is done with your money, not theirs. And thus, since they have absolutely no accountability or personal fiscal responsibility, the chances are extremely high they would all be bankrupt as they make their decisions with your money, not theirs.
And here is what the expert has to say:
www .entrepreneur.com/article/233689