Small Business Administration Offers YouTube Channel

The Central NY Business Journal reported that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced the launch of its channel on YouTube, the popular video-sharing Web site."

With millions of visitors, most of them under 35, YouTube offers a prime opportunity to use current technology and the appeal of a popular online platform to further promote the agency's programs and services," SBA Administrator Karen Mills said in a news release.

The SBA hopes to reach this audience with its message of entrepreneurship, the importance of small business to the nation's economy, and information on the agency's programs and services.The SBA YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/sba) debuted with a 60-second introduction to the agency, its programs and services, and a 10-part "Delivering Success" series co-produced with the U.S. Postal Service.

Future content will cover how small businesses can take advantage of the loan programs in the economic-stimulus package, government-contracting opportunities, exporting to increase market share, and counseling and training on how to start and grow a small business, according to the agency.

Nonprofit Ventures: Show Me the Money

We can talk about entrepreneurial ventures. We can brainstorm. We can even plan and raise money for our ideas. But, how about making it work? How about an example of a success? We would like to share the story of a simple idea to show you it is possible.

Bernadette Cannon, a supporter and advocate for Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, attended the very first New York Council of Nonprofits Entrepreneurial Ventures training offered in 2004. She came to the training with a simple idea: start a thrift shop. For the next couple of years, she worked tirelessly to make her idea a reality. Listen to her share her insight about her for profit venture. Most importantly, hear about her success.



Visit our YouTube channel and watch Bernadette share the rest of her story and her feedback.

Have your own story to share? Post it here, or contact us. Interested in contacting Bernadette? You can e-mail her at thrift.shop@cahpc.org.

Lessons Learned

What are the lessons you learned at Entrepreneurial Ventures for the Arts? Any light bulb moment? Anything you found extremely helpful? How about things to remember for others starting down this path? Share you ideas or even your questions. You can also e-mail them to us to post.

Funding Environment

What are funders looking for? That is the question on everyone's mind. During a couple recent conversations I've had with cultural organizations, I am starting to hear a different approach. There is a sense and realization that organizations have to change they way they do business. Waiting for the economy to turn around isn't of consideration any more, nor are funders available to fill the funding gaps and deficits. Instead, these nonprofits are looking at a funding mix (like any other nonprofit), but more importantly, focusing on how much money they generate through services, fees, and other activities. They are looking at what they do well, and how they can capitalize and make money. Are you having this conversation? What offers your organization the best chance of generating unrestricted dollars? This is where you need to be looking as we look to the future, especially as you consider starting your own entrepreneurial venture. Remember, share your ideas or questions here.

Power of Networking

There is a challenge to changing the way we do business, and even more in thinking of different ways to generate revenue for our organizations. But our peers offer an opportunity for us to start this difficult process. At the recent Entrepreneurial Ventures for the Arts trainings in Albany and NYC, participants found their peers invaluable resources for discussing ideas and even how to confront potential hurdles. As you consider your own venture, use your peer network. Our peers can be essential in helping make a venture successful. They can help us think through details we would miss. They can be our focus group. As we look at the time and effort involved in putting these ideas in place, this feedback is important and can help you make the most of your limited resources and time.

What are your ideas?

Following up on the recent program in NYC, there were a number of ideas shared. Here a couple from our discussion:

• Art supply store
• DVD production and sales of programs and materials
• Digital photography products
• Consulting work
• Rental space
• Specialized tours

What are your ideas? Share your revenue generating idea here, and tell people what your challenges are. The more we share, the more connections and opportunities we can discover.

A Beginning

Faced with numerous challenges, arts organizations need to be creative in developing new ways of funding their missions and programs. In response, the New York Council of Nonprofits with the support of the New York State Council on the Arts offered the first of two Entrepreneurial Ventures for the Arts trainings in NYC.

The conversation was great, the food was good, and participants not only shared their venture ideas, but they discovered shared opportunities just through their interaction and networking. There was plenty of information related, and participants explored the world of entrepreneurial ventures, discussing topics ranging from tax implications to the funding environment.

As the discussion of ideas continues, NYCON has launched this simple blog to help facilitate the development of these ventures. We invite you to post your ideas and questions here.