Small business to get boost in Henderson

Bob Shemeligian

Friday, May 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

In today's competitive business environment, a little help is often needed to get a small business off the ground.

This is especially true in Henderson, a fast growing community where many entrepreneurs are attempting to enter the commercial market.

To help them, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation has founded the Henderson Business Resource Center, a nonprofit project that provides facilities and support for new small businesses.

Henderson officials have dubbed the project "Nevada's first small business incubator," a reference to a maternity ward incubator that helps nurture premature babies.

Alice Martz, chamber executive director, explained that the chamber plans to expand its headquarters at 590 S. Boulder Highway, and the new facility will be large enough to house as many as a dozen small businesses.

In addition to housing small businesses, the chamber foundation plans to sponsor educational and entrepreneurship programs to teach small business owners how to survive in today's tough business climate.

"This is a support service that we will offer," Martz said. "We will teach small business owners how to market themselves, how to write a business plan, and so forth."

At the Henderson Business Resource Center, the resources of the chamber, UNLV, the Community College of Southern Nevada and the Clark County School District will be available under one roof, Martz said.

"The purpose of the center is to increase opportunities to ensure the success of small businesses and to keep them in the local community," Martz said. "That's what this is about -- to nurture small businesses. It's tough for them today because of competition, taxes and other pressures."