The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located at Cabrillo College, offers numerous resources and tools for business to thrive and survive. Given the current economic climate, the SBDC is a true gem for all the services and guidance they provide in running a successful business. New and existing businesses can leverage the Center’s consulting services to review existing processes, operations and cash flow while planning for the future. For potential business the SBDC offers an array of services from Quickbook assistance, business plan preparations to marketing plan assistance. The SBDC works closely with local lenders and can provide information on targeted loan programs including micro-loans and SBA Loan guarantee programs. In addition, they specialize in Restaurant/hospitality management, Childcare providers, Retail management, and Government contracting. We would like to announce the Small Business Development Center as one of our most generous and proud sponsors.

Visit them at http://www.centralcoastSBDC.org
Or call 831/479-6136

A few days back, Jeremy Neuner, Owner of Nextspace Coworking and Innovation, posted a review of the emerging tech scene in Santa Cruz. He named the first Freelance Camp as a significant player in the evolution of our growing and thriving local community.

Now you may think, emerging?!?, that’s silly. Santa Cruz is just 30 minutes out, a hop over the hill, from Silicon Valley. Borland, Plantronics, Netflix, Seagate and more were born there. All true. And yet, over the last decade the cohesion of the local community had evaporated. We had become just another bedroom community for the hordes of people commuting to google or trying to convince the investors on Sand Hill to cough up another few million.

That began to change a year and a half ago. We started geek dinners, which led to jellies, which led to freelance camp and a coworking space, which launched some hopping start-ups (for example: 12 Seconds, User Voice) and catalyzed a once disparate community of freelancers.

Feel like your town is isolated? Frustrated there isn’t enough action and clients? Get some people together and it will change things. I promise it will blow your mind.

Help the economy. Help yourself. Help your friend. Run your own freelance camp.