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To encourage and foster the growth of small business, support services are required. Business incubators and related services have been a successful part of Western small business support services in addition to being successful in emerging market economies. The longer these support services can be offered, the higher the probability of sustained success. One of the important services that can be provided to new entrepreneurs is an incubator facility or incubator environment where shared services are available along with supportive advisors that can provide encouragement and guidance when necessary. Having shared mentors or counsellors to deal with day-to-day problems helps small business start-ups deal with the difficult problems all new business owners have in addition to those associated with a lack of skills and understanding in a culture where market economy is relatively new. Confederation College will develop business consulting, business concept and business plan evaluation services for all aspiring and existing small business owners. The feasibility of an incubator with walls (a building where space is provided for manufacturing etc.) will be considered pending the needs assessment study and a feasibility study. The potential of a physical site for incubator businesses is closer to a reality as the municipality of Ivano-Frankivsk has offered a building to house such a facility... but as yet the renovation cost of this facility has not been reconciled. Part of SBEDIF's challenge will be to separate those services that are currently provided by the community (financial, legal, government, education) from those which should be done by SBEDIF programs. Needs assessment and diagnosis for SBEDIF clients will require skills that are currently upgraded with the changing local legislative and economic environment. The Ukrainian Partners' have committed resources for an on-going education program for SBEDIF staff that they will manage and deliver, ensuring that SBEDIF staff are in tune with the latest legal and political changes affecting small business entrepreneurs. The creation of a resource library on the SBEDIF premises in Ivano-Frankivsk will provide critical support for the education, training, incubator and other programs of the SBEDIF project. The resource materials will reinforce the learning and training efforts of both clients and staff, and will constitute a valuable resource to the wider community. In addition, business services such as phone answering services will be provided on a cost-recovery basis to support start-up businesses. |
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Last updates were made 19-08-99 Copyright |
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