York is open for business, says York College prof

Below is an op-ed that appeared in the York Daily Record in June. 

York is Open for Business

Dr. Jay Azriel, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, York College

There is no doubt that the last few years have been quite a test for York area businesses and residents. However, while the recession still has its grip on some business sectors, such as real estate, it seems that York is poised for prosperity. During 2011, I have read a number of articles and op-eds in the York Daily Record describing economic development initiatives for the greater York area. Unfortunately, while exciting, these initiatives may not convince the would-be entrepreneur to open a business in York. As an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at York College, let me share some information that I hope will change that.

 There are many reasons for would-be entrepreneurs to open a business in York. I might even go as far to say that perhaps there has not been a better time to start a business in York in quite some time. You might ask about the number of York area small businesses that are struggling to survive. True, but there has never been a time when the area has had more resources to offer business people who wish to grow their existing business or start a one.

Let’s start with York College’s J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center has just opened its new business incubator, which provides young businesses not only a bricks and mortar location to conduct business, but also numerous services either free or available at a low cost. The Center is located on Kings Mill Road, which is within the boundaries of the area’s Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ). The KIZ has a number of programs for companies involved in innovative, technology-related businesses that are housed inside the Zone. In addition, companies in the incubator can draw on expertise from York College’s engineering, business, and science faculty and students. Within the Center, the Women’s Business Center Organization supports women entrepreneurs through a network of local businesswomen and events throughout the year.

The J.D. Brown Center also houses the local branch of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).  The SBDC branch offers a number of services, such as workshops and consulting, to area entrepreneurs.  For example, the SBDC provided a marketing consultant for two downtown York retail stores. The consultant made several suggestions to the owners such as changing their marketing mix, which resulted in dramatic differences in sales.

 In addition, the York SCORE chapter has a number of highly experienced individuals who provide area entrepreneurs and businesses with a number of services, including consulting and one-on-one mentoring. SCORE has partnered with the J.D. Brown Center to provide workshops throughout the year on topics ranging from starting a business to using QuickBooks software.

Finally, for entrepreneurs who would like to take advantage of opportunities in downtown York, the City’s Department of Economic Development has hired an additional Economic Development Specialist, Tonya Thompson-Morgan. The Department has several initiatives underway, including working closely with York College to provide free small business workshops to area residents. These workshops provide a basic understanding of the small business start-up process, an often-neglected process that really sets the foundation for the success of a business.

Let me address one final note that is often of paramount concern to entrepreneurs: capital. While capital for start-up businesses is still often difficult to obtain from local banks, financing is not always the most important ingredient. There are a number of large companies that have started from humble beginnings. Think about Facebook, whose founders started their business with about $1,000. An entrepreneur’s social capital, the network of people outside the business who provide advice and other assistance, plays a critical role in every young business’ success. York has a wealth of individuals and organizations that can be part of your social capital. Entrepreneurs who choose to start their business in the Greater York area can tap into this well-developed network of experts. It seems pretty clear to me that York is open for business.