Markeshia Ricks Photo
James and entrepreneur Ricky Evans at his graduation from the Passion to Profit program.
The city’s small business effort is getting some more help, now that the Board of Alders has voted to create a new administrative assistant position.
The $39,210-a-year position will assist the director — and sole employee — of the New Haven’s Small Business Service Center, which has helped 300 people since it opened its doors.
The center, in the 200 Orange St. government office building, opened to small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs when Jackie James (pictured left in the above photo) was appointed director in July 2014. James has been the center’s lone employee since the doors opened. Prior to the center, Clay Williams, small business development officer, was the city’s point person for small business expertise.
The Board of Alders voted overwhelmingly Tuesday night to fund the position; it will be paid for through special funds for the rest of this fiscal year and assist other economic-development staff as well as James. Three alders voted against funding the position, though Mayor Toni Harp touted the work of the center in her state of the city address prior to the board meeting saying that the center “had a promising story to tell.” (Read more about Harp’s address here.)
James said she would like to do more to tell that story. But when she leaves the office to meet with someone looking for resources to start a business, or a new partner for the center, she has to shut down the center to do it. That means there is no one in the office to take phone calls, or to help with scheduling appointments and other activities. According to the city’s website, the center’s office offers management and technical assistance to existing and start-up businesses; help with creating a business plan; assistance with choosing a business structure; business registration; help securing permits and licenses; provides information about business law and regulations; and resources to access loans, grants and other funding sources.
Despite the lack of support, the center has been able to put on 25 workshops in the last year, two of which were multi-week events, including a Passion to Profit program that center was able to offer for free with the help of the Women’s Business Development Council. (Read more about that event and the 23 small business owners who graduated from the program here.)
James said she plans to create a small business incubator at 192 Dixwell Ave., and she also is working with the Yale University School of Management to create a resource guide and network opportunities.
Newhallville Alder Brenda Foskey-Cyrus, East Rock Alder Anna Festa and Quinnipiac Meadows Alder Richard Spears voted Monday night against creating the new administrative position. Festa and Spears said it came down to whether the position might contribute to a tax hike.
Festa said given that the alders begin debating a new fiscal year budget in March, she saw no reason to fund a position through the end of June (the end of the current fiscal year). “Right now, I don’t think we should start hiring until we know the budget and what the possible tax burden for this position might be,” she said.
“I don’t think we have a true assessment and I don’t think it is sound practice to add staff to city hall until we do,” agreed Spears.
“Bottom line, we don’t want to hire someone for this job and have to face letting them go in June,” Festa added. “It’s not just salary, but also benefits and pension.”
James said the goal is to have the administrative assistant position paid for through from special funds or general fund money in the mayor’s next budget, especially given the demand there has been for the center. She said it could grow faster if she has some help.
“I enjoy my job,” she said. “But I need some support to continue to meet the needs of the residents of the city.”