When Ronald E. Klusacek retired from the military seven years ago and had an idea for a small business, he turned to the Army Career and Alumni Program.
Through the program, the Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College assisted him with a business plan and finding financing for what became the UPS Store locations in Evans Mills and Watertown and Omni Financial.
"The biggest thing to find out is just talking to people to see whether the ideas are going to work," he said.
To help veterans and their spouses take the first step toward opening or expanding a small business, the center will hold a free workshop Dec. 10.
The Veterans Small Business Resource Day will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Barben-Jones Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1400, 231 Bellew Ave.
Representatives from the state Department of Labor, federal Veterans Affairs, federal Small Business Administration, Key Bank and New York Business Development Corp. will share information on their programs for veterans and veterans' spouses.
"We are getting several agencies in one venue so that the veterans and spouses have the opportunity to talk to all the people at once," said Robin E. Stephenson, a business adviser at SBDC.
She said the center has organized similar workshops before, but the programs change constantly and it's been a few years since the last workshop.
Topics will include starting or expanding a business, government contracting and financing options.
"Maybe it will reconfirm what they've already heard or just to give them some food for thought," Ms. Stephenson said. "It will tell them what they're going to need to start a business in New York state."
The center at JCC counseled more than 150 veterans in the past year about starting or expanding their business. The center also participates in information sessions for the Warriors in Transition Unit and the Army Career and Alumni Program.
Both prospective and current business owners are welcome. The workshop is free and light refreshments will be served. Preregistration is required by calling the center at 782-9262 by Friday.
The SBDC didn't offer a veterans workshop when Mr. Klusacek was interested in starting a business. But since then, he's helped the center with workshops and other classes.
"The workshops are a great resource to get somebody through that first step," he said. "It helps get rid of anxiety. And it shows where do you go to get help and assistance to make that dream a reality."
