Jennifer Shelton, director of the Washington State Small Business Development Center, provides advice for entrepreneurs and existing company owners across the state to aid in business management. — Photo by Jordan Stead

Brian Burton, dean of Western’s College of Business and Economics and professor in the MBA program and department of management, said Bellingham had a small business center in the past, but in 2008 it was closeddue to a lack of funding.

The center is a free-of-charge, appointment-based service with business advising open to the community.

Jennifer Shelton, director of the Small Business Development Center, said the center will be working with business owners in the community to provide advising services, access to resources, research and training.

Shelton said the center provides advice for entrepreneurs and existing company owners across the state to aid in business management.

The center was created with a  grant-funded program through the Small Business Administration and Washington State University.

Burton said federal funding from the Small Business Administration involves a matching recruitment.

The program provides businesses with advice on how to work with loan package development: a plan that shows specific financial information to loan officers that can in turn predict how profitable the investment will be and if it's worth sponsoring.

The center also helps to find alternative sources of finances and offers financial management in helping create and save jobs by stabilizing the business.

Shelton said because of the recession in the economy, businesses are looking for advice.

“Due to the economic down-trend and less commercial loans being made by banks, many businesses are seeking advice to stabilize and grow,” Shelton said. “[There’s] a lot of demand out there.”

The center plans on having intern and mentoring opportunities next year, allowing Western business students to gain experience.

John Dahl, a Central Washington University graduate, will be working alongside Shelton.    

Shelton said the center’s short-term goal is to get the word out to the community.

She said the long-term goals for the center include making a difference by increasing business sales in the downtown area  for small companies, helping with loan acquirement, and working to create more jobs and overall program success.

The center not only has the expertise of Shelton, but also 29 other advisers from 23 centers around the state.

Shelton can access each and every advisers, providing clients with more diverse advice.

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