NNY businesses focus of rural venture

A national small-business counseling organization is bringing a rural initiative north in an effort to help struggling farms and other small businesses in the north country.

SCORE, which uses volunteer business people as counselors and mentors, started the Upstate New York Rural Business Initiative using help from Assemblyman David Koon, D-Perinton, and state Sen. George H. Winner Jr., R-Elmira.

"We've wanted to reach out to rural businesses," said Richard V. Hannis, director of the Upstate New York SCORE district that covers 45 counties. "And now we're going to have the money to get to them."

The Watertown chapter, which has 14 active members, serves Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. It used to be known as Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Jana R. Skinner, who served as chairwoman of the Watertown chapter for the past two years, said the entire chapter is considered rural.

"This will help us reach the outlying areas," she said. "We tend to go to our clients as opposed to having them come to us."

She said many free, confidential visits turn into long-term mentoring relationships where business owners ask questions on a wide range of topics. SCORE members also help with business workshops. SCORE partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration and locally with organizations including the Small Business Development Center and Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative.

"Our counselors are doing a lot with established businesses right now," Ms. Skinner said.

As small businesses are struggling or starting in the economic downturn, Ms. Skinner said, they turn more to the free, private counseling.

"Banks like people to be mentored and counseled by SBDC or SCORE," she said. "We've helped businesses who are afraid they're going out of business and we've had them turn right around."

The rural program is not all the local chapter is planning to add.

Newly seated Chairman Joseph A. Wessner said the chapter is always looking for new members and new clients. It would like more business counselors, as well as those who can help with questions on business law, raising money and technology.

Mr. Wessner is planning a program of round-table discussions for business owners, likely to start in Carthage in January and February.

"It will bring business owners together in a room to just talk about business," he said. "It's open to whatever topics they want to cover. And whatever is said in the room stays in the room."

To contact the local SCORE chapter, call 788-1200 or e-mail score170@westelcom.com.