For Immediate Release
May 1, 2006
Contact: Raquel Valdez 1-888-385-1975
512-912-9885
rvaldez@austintx.net

Local Non-Profit To provide businesses development Services

Business & Community Lenders of Texas announces its Biz Assist Program to the Central Texas Area

Austin, Texas - BCL of Texas has collaborated with The City of Austin’s Small Business Development Program and the Business Solutions Center to provide business technical assistance to Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson County. BCL of Texas will be launching their BIZ Assist program in May. All services are free through funding from the City of Austin. BCL Biz Assist will include start up orientations, business counseling, business plan reviews, the use of the City of Austin Business Solutions Center and resources.

The BCL of Texas Biz Assist Program is designed to assist individuals to acquire the skills they need to successfully begin and operate a small business and to educate business owners on additional resources. Our goal is to assist more than 500 individuals with business development services over the course of the Biz Assist program. Rosa Ríos Valdez, BCL of Texas Executive Director said, “The goal for BCL of Texas is to increase the entrepreneurs’ opportunity to compete in their local market. A direct benefit is that entrepreneurs will also contribute to the economic growth of the Austin metro region.”

BCL of Texas will offer free weekly orientation sessions for individuals interested in starting their own business. BCL of Texas will hold lunch and learn session delivered by established business owners.

The speakers will discuss “lessons learned” on topics such as, competition with in the market, controlling operating expenses, and technology usage. BCL of Texas will also provide free and confidential “one on one” business counseling sessions on issues such as market analysis, operating a franchise business, cost accounting, obtaining business capital, and more. The counseling is confidential and will be conducted at the BCL entrepreneurship center, 2212 S. Congress Ave., Austin, Texas and at future locations in Bastrop, Lulling, Kyle, and Leander.

BCL of Texas was incorporated sixteen years ago as a Non-profit Certified Development Corporation to promote business development and commercial real estate loans throughout Central Texas. In the last five years, BCL of Texas has extended their reach to service entire state of Texas. BCL of Texas has added and extended their services beyond lending. BCL now offers community development programs through Homebuyer education and Community Facility loans. “We provide to our customers growth-oriented solutions. We equip entrepreneurs with the information they need to achieve success,” says Rosa Ríos Valdez.

To find out more information about the BCL Biz Assist program and the business start-up orientation schedule contact BCL of Texas at 1-888-385-1975 or email bclbizassist@austintx.net.

About BCL of Texas

BCL of Texas is a state wide Not for profit Certified Development Corporation. The organization has successfully promoted business and community development since 1990 and has helped to create more than 3,000 jobs for Texans. Additional information about BCL of Texas services and products can be found online at www.grandcentraltx.org.

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