By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Carol Bishop, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) educator and Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce Board Member, is responsible for a $22,930 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant awarded to the Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Mike Donahue.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $22,930 grant to the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce to open and maintain a small business resource cewnter to help potential business owners get started locally.

Carol Bishop, University of Nevada Cooperation Extension (UNCE) educator in the Logandale office, said the ultimate purpose of the grant is to increase the number of small businesses in the valley. Bishop, in her position as chamber board member, was responsible for writing the application for the Rural Development grant.

“Our eventual goal is to increase the business diversity in Moapa Valley and improve the local economic outlook,” Bishop said. “Prospective business owners have a number of obstacles to overcome prior to starting a business here and we want to help lessen or ease those obstacles.”

Bishop, as UNCE educator, conducted a needs assessment survey last year in which respondents said they believed it was too difficult locally for entrepreneurs to open new businesses and there is a need for an assistance office.

“We plan to open a small business help-center at 280 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. that will be staffed part time three days a week and full time every other Saturday,” Bishop said. “Prospective business owners will be able to get one-on-one assistance on a walk in basis.”

Among other things, the office will:

• Help determine if a particular project is actually feasible;

• Determine what permits are necessary for the potential business;

• Determine what Clark County offices will be involved in the permitting procedure such as health, licensing, planning, zoning, etc.;

• Give assistance with writing a business plan, a business budget and sources of funding.

“We plan to have the office open one morning, one afternoon and one evening during the week and then all day every other Saturday,” she said. “We want to assist potential business owners with education and one-on-one mentoring thru the logistics involved in setting up a business in Clark County.”