Goal 4: Provide an Excellent Business Retention Program
ACTION 4B : Provide structure for business assistance
LEAD And TEAM: MDC,SB,Sg,CmC

STARTUP: First Quarter
ACTION TYPE: One-Time Project
RESOURCE CATEGORY: 1 , 2 , 7

With existing challenges and new opportunities, Downtown businesses need a formal system to provide business assistance. This system should be well organized, easy to reach, and highly promoted.

MDC has access to many regional and state-level resources to help build a business assistance program. At the core of this program should be the Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network. MDC should investigate the possibility of establishing an SBDC office or satellite office in Meridian . In either case, the office should have close connections to Sage, Idaho Department of Commerce, and COMPASS. These great resource entities are readily available to assist but to be effective, their resources need to be brought to focus by MDC on the challenges and needs in Downtown.

A workshop including these entities should be hosted by MDC to identify the best means and tools available to create a focused, coordinated business assistance program. This should be an early action of the MDC's new executive director.

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