HAWAI`I SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER NETWORK

1998 ANNUAL REPORT
BUSINESS INFORMATION AND COUNSELING CENTER - BICC

Shown below: Olivé Uhrle (seated) and Jane Sawyer
The Honolulu Business Information and Counseling Center (BICC) was established by the Honolulu District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1994 with the Hawai`i SBDC Network as a principal partner in the operation. Its purpose is to guide small business owners in better business planning, in how to conduct market research, and in using the latest technology to help improve the productivity and profitability of their firms. It is a public/private sector partnership developed by SBA Assistant District Director for Business Development, Jane Sawyer, with support from Andrew Poepoe, the SBA District Director, and Darryl Mleynek, the Hawai`i SBDC Network State Director.

This center offers small business owners and managers the opportunity to develop better management skills and to discover new tools to use in the growth of their businesses. It represents one of the many positive results of the continuing collaborative efforts between the SBA and the Hawai`i SBDC Network, and far exceeds the contractual limits of their cooperative agreement.

The BICC offers Hawai`i's small businesses a unique and focused, one-stop shop concept for business development. The O`ahu Center of the Hawai`i SBDC Network is a key operating partner in this innovative center. SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) and the Women's Financial Resource Center are also under the BICC umbrella. The BICC features a business computer lab equipped with the newest high-tech small business software and a resource center of current business books, guides, videos and magazines, all available for client use at the center.

The strategy behind the BICC was to establish a "retail" outlet for entrepreneurial and business assistance which would pool resources and talents. Additionally, the center was designed to be highly user-friendly and accessible, featuring self-paced training mechanisms. The needs of the business community drive the development and management of the facility. As an example, due to the clear need for more support to Hawai`i's growing number of women business owners, the Women's Financial Resource Center joined the team early in 1998 to offer special services to this fast growing segment of the economy.

SBA's BICC is able to offer innovative programs to Hawai`i's small businesses through the generous support and contributions of the American Savings Bank, GTE Hawaiian Tel, GTE Directories and GTE Wireless, First Hawaiian Bank, City Bank, Hawaii National Bank, Bank of Hawaii, and Lava Net, all partners in small business excellence for Hawai`i.


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