Today the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) and the Washington DC Chapter of SCORE announced a collaboration to offer free business mentoring at the DSLBD office. Along with the  mentoring sessions, businesses will be able to attend small business workshops offered through SCORE. The new service offerings will address the needs of start-ups and existing small business through direct, confidential assistance, along with information on how to start, operate, and grow a business with the District of Columbia.

 

“DSLBD is excited to partner with SCORE to involve the business community in a project that will help cultivate growth in the District,” saidDSLBD Interim Director, Robert Summers. “SCORE has long served the small business community well and we are very happy for their participation.Offering business mentoring services at DSLBD delivers the direct engagement necessary to help DC businesses.”

The partnership between DSLBD and SCORE was developed from a mutual interest in ensuring that the Districts business community is provided with an avenue to achieve success. The business mentoring sessions will pair small businesses with seasoned, industry specific retired business owners. 

 

“SCORE is delighted to partner with DSLBD to bring additional services and support to the small businesses and entrepreneurs of Washington DC”, said Bruce Gitlin, SCORE Chapter Chairman. “ We see tremendous synergy in our complementary services. Partnering at the same location will make it easier for our mutual clients to leverage what we have to offer.”

 

The workshops are structured to provide an introduction to key business management topics as well as offer courses for government contractors. Each session features presentations by SCORE mentors with ample time for business-specific questions and feedback from participants. Later in 2013 DSLBD and SCORE plan to offer workshops targeted at the 

specific needs of theDC small business community. 

 

To learn more about DSLBD, please: visit http://dslbd.dc.gov, follow DSLBD on Twitter at @SmallBizDC, or like our Facebook page http://facebook.com/bizDC.