A newly-formed local consortium is looking to help existing businesses or those considering opening a business in Vermilion County. Peter Blackmon, Executive Director of the Danville Public Library Foundation says anyone can attend the informal ‘Consult’ sessions that will occur the first Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. at the Danville Public Library. He explained its purpose is to try to help the local economy…
{AUDIO: ‘’The idea came to me as things have grown with Vermilion Advantage and their Chamber Division to bring together retired, or veteran business leaders, and create essentially a little coffee clutch for them to meet with small businesses – or people interested in starting up, or people that maybe just need some re-branding – and give them ideas – for free.’’}
(Blackmon – shown here – says the talks will be held in a relaxed setting at the Danville Public Library.)
Blackmon notes the effort is similar to something that was in place years ago…
{AUDIO: ‘’The idea is reminiscent of the old SCORE program that we used to have in Danville when I first came to town, and has kind-of, since gone away – at least here in the community. And so we’re bringing that back with a broader scope. And that is trying to bring together people who are experts in the field of accounting, or banking, or marketing and just lending some advice as to how small businesses can continue to grown and achieve success. Or people interested in starting up can get off on the right foot.’’}
Blackmon says the monthly coffee sessions are not intended to defer from what the Small Business Development Center at Danville Area Community College or Vermilion Advantage are already doing. In fact both of those offices are part of the new consortium which will give small business owners a chance to interact with retired and veteran professionals…free of charge. ”We sort of give them the knowledge and the right questions to ask when they leave here and then go meet with Vermilion Advantage to talk about how they can help on an official level, or to meet with Earl at the Small Business Development Center, and how they can help,” said Blackmon.
The first session begins at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 6th, 2022, at the Danville Public Library. Anyone interested in attending is asked to register for the meeting on the Danville Public Library Foundation Facebook page, or by visiting www.Theconsultdanville.com.
