The number one goal of the Coopersville Area Chamber of Commerce is to support our businesses to the best of our ability. To that end we have partnered with such organizations as the SBA - Small Business Association, SBTDC – Small Business & Technical Development Center, and S.C.O.R.E.- Service Corp of Retired Executives.
S.C.O.R.E. offers free business counseling at their satellite office at Coopersville Chamber of Commerce office the second Tuesday of each month. Appointments can be made by calling the Chamber office, 997-9731.
SBTDC offers free business counseling and low cost workshops at their offices located on the downtown campus of GVSC. See their website for a current listing of workshop offerings and contact information at www.misbtdc.org/region7/ .
Sites for Business Assistance
Government
Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource site from the IRS
The Bureau of Census provides census information on a wide variety of topics.
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has put selected volumes of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) online with more to follow.
Free access to the Commerce Business Daily and information about an abundance of government rules and regulations.
The Federal Marketplace assists businesses in selling products and services to the federal government. Up to date Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and the Internet's only Active Federal Contracts database.
Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) OSHA standards, interpretations, field inspection reference manual, etc.
FedWorld - Lists Internet resources of federal government agencies.
The Library of Congress
Association of Small Business Development Centers in the United States
Small Business Learning is your online small business learning center, designed to provide comprehensive, high-quality resources specifically for small business entrepreneurs.
Small-Area Census Data is a site which links to a variety of Census and private sector data and information such as County Business Patterns, Federal Depository Libraries, international population estimates, mapping modules and university data centers. This site also maintains archived Census data.
U.S. Business Advisor - A good source of information on government regulations in a variety of areas, including Labor, Taxes, Environment, and others.
U.S. Small Business Administration - Information from the SBA and contains a good list of Internet resources for small business.
The Right Place Program Grand Rapids
Better Business Bureau (Check Out Business Reliability)
U.S. Postal Service (Rates & product information)
Preparing a Business Plan (Business plan outline & information)
U.S. Department of Labor (SIC information)
"America's Business Funding Directory" (Locate Business Capital)
IRS - Business Tax Issues, Tips and More (A very creative site)
New Guide to US Govt. Assistance & Regulations for Business
Marketing Management and Planning
American Marketing Association (Tons of marketing information)
General
Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center
SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business
ZIP 2 gives you a map and directions to any business location from your location.
National Business Incubation Association Information on business incubators and a large collection of links.
Primary Access Point Allow bidders to access databases containing contracting opportunities at various state and provincial level contracting offices in the U.S. and Canada. Other links provide valuable contract points at various public purchasing offices.
PSI Research On-line is a digital resource center for small business.
The Small Business Association of Michigan is a not for profit, tax-exempt corporation, organized for the exclusive interest and concern of small business in Michigan.
The Small Business Resource Center is a compilation of useful information for entrepreneurs everywhere including free reports, on-line catalogs of resources, and links to other small business resources on the web.
AT&T (Toll free 800 directory)
American Business Information (Sales leads, credit info., 11,000 companies)
Dun & Bradstreet Information Services ($20.00 charge to search & receive info on companies)
Smallbiz
Visa Small Business Site
Export Sales & Marketing Manual which is used by US companies and entrepreneurs to start successful export businesses
International Business Sites
An excellent analysis of trade with Mexico can be found at the following Internet address http:// naid.sppsr.ucla.edu
Foreign Languages for Travelers page
Retail
Small Retailers Get New Resource
Independent retailers struggling to compete against superstores and online shopping now can turn to "Challenges of the Future," a free Web-based resource to help independents survive. It was created by more than two dozen other state retailing groups, including the Michigan Retailers Association, and addresses trends affecting retailing, obstacles in the marketplace, strategies for success and resources for help. For more information, visit www.retail-revival.com
