Randy Garrett, director of the Temple Business Incubator, is organizing a local branch chapter of SCORE, a national volunteer organization that supports small businesses through counseling.
Garrett introduced John Lewis, district director for the North Texas chapter of SCORE. Lewis explained the value SCORE brings to a community and lauded Temple’s central location.
“I think Temple is a wonderful place to do business,” Lewis said. “You can serve everyone from Texas, as adverse to being in one corner of the country or the other. It’s going to be a thrill for me to work with you folks.”
Garrett said the Temple branch would begin as part of the Waco chapter. He said he has met with the Waco group twice and they were enthusiastic about helping.
But it won’t be easy. SCORE needs volunteers and money. Garrett said fundraising would be a priority.
Businesswoman Sue Hamby, owner of Discover Natural Foods in Temple for 21 years, has a long history helping small businesses. At Monday’s meeting, she said entrepreneurs would benefit from having a local SCORE chapter.
“I want to help new businesses get started, but there is a lot of small businesses already out there, and they’re struggling and they’re going to go under without some guidance,” Ms. Hamby said.
Figures from the office of advocacy at the Small Business Administration back up that statement.
Although small businesses (less than 500 workers) account for about half of all private sector employees, one-third don’t survive to see their second anniversary, and about two-thirds fail within seven years.
SCORE volunteers would use their specialty - whether it’s fundraising, marketing or accounting - to help the new chapter get on its feet, Garrett said.
SCORE is a resource partner with the SBA. It has 10,500 volunteers nationwide that use their expertise and experience to counsel small business owners.
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