CEDF Small Business Institute

Don’t miss the opportunity to strengthen your business skills this Spring at the CEDF Small Business Institute.  When you strengthen your skills, you strengthen your business. 

“Understanding Business Finances to Maximize Your Profit”- Learn how to keep the necessary records for your small business and how to set up functional record keeping systems.  Discussion will include understanding financial statements, making income projections and different accounting methods that work best for your business.

“Introduction to QuickBooks”- Please note that the prerequisite to this class is the successful completion of “Understanding Business Finances”.  Participants will receive hands-on instruction in a small group setting.  The class fee includes a copy of QuickBooks 2008 software. Please be aware that demand for this workshop is high and registrations are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

“Tax Related Issues for Small Business”- Every business owner needs to know the tax issues associated with owning a small business in Connecticut.  Learn about the different kinds of taxes affecting your business and about your filing responsibilities and deadlines.  Our certified CPA instructors will help you understand your reporting and compliance responsibilities and answer questions about payroll taxes, sales tax and personal property tax.

To register for classes or for additional information, please contact Rina Bakalar, Institute Director, at r.bakalar@cedf.com  or 203-235-2333 ext. 2040 or visit the CEDF website www.cedf.com  to download course information and registration forms.

Business Outreach Program

The City of West Haven and The United Illuminating Company (UI) have partnered together to conduct business outreach visits through the Business Outreach Program. 

The program allows business development specialists from the City and UI to meet with local businesses, one-on-one, to discuss the challenges many businesses are facing in these difficult economic times, and explore solutions that can help companies in West Haven expand and grow.

The program is targeting companies from a wide range of business arenas that are integral to West Haven’s economic vitality and success. If you would like your business to participate in the program, please contact Ashley McClellan at mcclellan@westhaven-ct.gov.

Please visit UI’s economic development website at www.ctcentralcoast.com.

Business Pride Awards

Mayor John M. Picard, right, presents the West Haven Pride Award for the city’s March Business of the Month to University of New Haven President Stephen H. Kaplan in front of the future site of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science.

The award praises UNH for the addition of the $9.4 million Lee Institute and “for its wholehearted devotion to the city of West Haven as an outstanding community and institutional partner.”

The 15,649-square-foot Lee Institute, which will open next fall and sit on a portion of UNH’s 80-acre main campus on the Boston Post Road, is part of Allingtown’s ongoing renaissance, which also includes the university’s new, $43 million Soundview Residence Hall, which stands five stories, and $15.5 million David A. Beckerman Recreation Center, which encompasses 56,000 square feet.

UNH’s ambitious development initiatives are complemented by the recent, state-of-the-art expansion at nearby Notre Dame High School and the completed Penske Truck Leasing facility at the old Bowl Drive-In theater site at 38 Boston Post Road.

University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
1-800-342-5864
http://www.newhaven.edu

From left, Charli’s Cupcake Factory owner Jennifer Maultsby and her 6-year-old daughter, Charli, receive the West Haven Pride Award for the city’s February Business of the Month from Mayor John M. Picard with employees Kori Ligon and Chelsea Rivera.

The award praises the sweets shop “for its wholehearted devotion to the city of West Haven as an outstanding community partner.”

Charli’s, which opened last fall, specializes in a smorgasbord of homemade, gourmet and organic cupcakes and muffins.

Using only natural or organic ingredients, Charli’s seven employees make each heaping-size cupcake from scratch, baking at least 400 a day.

Charli’s Cupcake Factory
912 Campbell Avenue
203-909-6001
http://charliscupcakefactory.com/

Utility Resource Guide

Regional Water Authority
 90 Sargent Drive
 New Haven, CT 06511
 203-735-1888
 www.rwater.com 

 United Illuminating
 157 Church Street P.O. Box 1564
 New Haven, CT 06506
 1-800-676-7052
 www.uinet.com

 Southern Connecticut Gas
 77 Hartland Street, 4th Floor
 East Hartford, CT 06108
 1-866-268-2887
 www.soconngas.com

Downtown

• West Haven Downtown Facade Program
• West Haven Downtown Design Guidelines

Small Business Loan Program

The City of West Haven is committed to the success of your small business.  We have enlisted assistance from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF), and the West Haven Community Development Administration (CDA).  Whether you need business plan writing assistance, new signage or facades, start-up funding or non-bankable loans, these organizations are available to help you.

For free business plan writing and revising assistance, please contact Ken Kollmeyer, Business Development Specialist, at kollmeyerkes@ccsu.edu or 203-392-5196 or visit the SBDC website www.ccsu.edu/sbdc for more information on their services.

For more information about CEDF’s small business loans, please contact Scott Arnold, Loan Specialist, at s.arnold@cedf.com or 203-235-2333 ext. 2020 or visit the CEDF website www.cedf.com.

For more information and updates from the City of West Haven, please contact: Ashley McClellan at mcclellan@westhaven-ct.gov or at 203-937-3559.

Small Business Center

Small Administration Links

• U.S. Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov/
• The Connecticut Small Business Development Center: http://web.ccsu.edu/sbdc/,Community
• Connecticut Economic Development Fund: http://www.cedf.com/
• Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development: http://www.ct.gov/ecd/site/default.asp
• SCORE: http://www.score.org/index.html
• Connecticut Community Investment Corporation: http://www.ctcic.org/

Legislative Alerts/Briefings

• Connecticut Conference of Municipalities
• State of Connecticut
• South Central Regional Council of Governments