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Greetings!
In this issue alt.Consulting pays tribute to
our clients. It is the client who fills us with hope,
makes our work fulfilling, keeps us going, and
constantly teaches us new and important lessons.
We hope that these success stories inspire other
entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and inspire local
leaders to see that entrepreneurs can make a
difference in their communities.
| Defining Success |
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Definitions of success vary with each person.
Success for entrepreneurs also varies and depends
largely on the entrepreneur's goals and personal
needs. Some definitions we have heard, include:
- Financial success
- Sleeping better at night
- Providing jobs in the community
- Better management skills
- Better management tools
- Confidence in management decisions
alt.Consulting wants entrepreneurs in low-wealth
communities to have the tools and resources they
need to define and achieve their business success.
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| Working Together |
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Perry Smith started a tractor and heavy equipment
repair business two years ago after spending 26
years in the tractor service industry.
Joe Akis has owned a heating and air business for 12
years and has more than 15 years of experience in
the industry.
These two long-time friends got together in 2003 and
formed PJ's. These two entrepreneurs realized that
by working together, they could have the space they
needed, reduce their costs and expand their market
reach.
This partnership is an example of entrepreneurial
ingenuity and ambition. The partnership is a win/win.
alt.Consulting facilitated strategic planning with both
divisions of the business and have created a
complete loan package and business plan to secure
the financing needed to grow the businesses.
A special thank you to USDA Rural Development for
their support, which allows alt.Consulting to reach
into rural communities and provide assistance to
entrepreneurs. When asked about the work with alt.
Perry and Joe both said 'the consultant has been
very helpful and very professional.'
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| Growing, Growing, Growing |
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Brenda Brown worked in the daycare industry for 12
years. In 1995, she opened her own home-based
center called Grandmas House.
Grandmas House quickly became known as a well run
daycare that taught children to count, read and
undestand letters, recite the alphabet and develop
socially. With a limited capacity to serve 16 kids,
the center consistently maintained a waiting list of
over 30 children.
In 2000, Ms Brown joined the Arkansas Women's
Business Development Center's Woman-to-Woman
Business Mentoring Program, which was co-facilitated
by alt.Consulting.
alt.Consulting identified a realtor and developed an
SBA Pre-Qualification package which secured her first
loan with a private sector bank. Through the loan,
Ms. Brown was able to purchase a building and four
lots providing a great playground area and room to
expand.
Since that time, Ms. Brown has expanded her building
4 times. With each expansion she adds children.
She now operates a 24 hour center, takes care of
136 children over 4 shifts, has 18 employees and she
still has a waiting list.
alt.Consulting wants to thank Southern Good Faith
Fund and their Business Development
Center for their support and partnership as well as
their work to provide resources and support to
entrepreneurs.
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| Cleaning Up! |
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Candace Mills started 2 Chicks and a Broom in
2002. The company is a residential cleaning
company in Memphis, TN offering "all natural cleaning
mixed with common sense". Candace completed the
FastTrac training program facilitated by
alt.Consulting that same year and at the time she
had 2 employees.
Today 2 Chicks and a Broom has over
30 'chicks' in the field and 2 full time office
employees. The company has just moved into a new
office and plans to open a store selling their cleaning
products.
When asked about FastTrac, Ms Mills
responded emphatically,"Yes, it was very
helpful."
This is a great example of an entrepreneur who had
the drive and determination, coupled with
training, and built a successful business.
alt.Consulting and EmergeMemphis have teamed up
to offer FastTrac, an exciting 11-week training
program that offers entrepreneurs a chance to
improve their management skills while interacting with
other business owners to share and discuss ideas,
strategies and successes.
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A Little Help Makes a Big Difference |
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Louisa Montgomery grew up near the small town of
Shelby, Mississippi and two years ago she moved
back to the area. Upon returning, Louisa became
involved with the "Shelby Women United", a civic
group formed to make positive social changes in the
town.
In addition to her community involvement, Louisa
capitalized on her strong family heritage in cooking
and unique inspiration from New Orleans' dishes to
begin a small catering business. She then identified
a unique niche in the local food market (serving
barbeque lunch plates at construction sites) and
Montgomery Mississippi BBQ was born.
Sales quickly reached the capacity of Louisa's
personal grill. She needed $950 to buy a commercial
grill but couln't get a loan. Undeterred, Louisa
continued to look for other options, attending
business seminars and developing a business plan.
At one of these seminars, Louisa met alt.Consulting.
Over the next year she worked with the
consultant on strategies to expand her
business. When Trickle Up started their Lower
Mississippi Delta Initiative, the consultant said 'I have
the perfect person for this program. She has never
asked 'what can I get' and she has never given up.'
With the help of Trickle Up and the alt consultant,
Louisa purchased a new grill and sales have doubled.
With a reputation that is rapidly spreading among the
construction crews, a personality that never quits,
and food that reflects both her passion and her
heritage, it sounds like Louisa has found a recipe for
success
Trickle Up began it's Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative
in the spring of 2005. Louisa Montgomery was the
first entrepreneur to receive help through this
initiative and that help has made a big difference for
this small business.
Click the link below to learn more about Trickle Up.
Trickle
Up
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How alt.Consulting Measures It's
Success
alt.Consulting provides the customized managerial
assistance, training, and resources that
entrepreneurs need to make good decisions as well
as the management tools they need to implement
those decisions, reach their goals and grow their
businesses profitably.
- In as little as 13 months, alt.Consulting has
closed $305,000 in loans to small businesses in low-
wealth communities as a Technical Assistance
Provider of the SBA Community Express Program and
through our partner Innovative Bank. The average
loan size is just over $8,000.
- Through the SBA Community Express loan
program, 38 small businesses have received much
needed working capital.
- At least five clients decided not to start
businesses after conducting a feasibility
study with alt.Consulting's guidance. We
consider these to be success stories because the
client avoided a loss of scarce, personal
resources.
- Between January 2004 and June 2005,
alt.Consulting helped to create 74 net new jobs and
retain 963 jobs.
- Between January and June 2005, alt.Consulting
provided customized managerial assistance to 93
businesses.
- In the same period, alt.Consulting provided
counseling and research services (10 hours or less in
assitance) to 45 businesses.
- Training services have been provided to 120
entrepreneurs in 2005.
- An analysis of a random sampling of 80
businesses assisted by alt.Consulting showed that
60% of those businesses experienced an average
25% increase in sales.
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Make a Difference
There are many more stories like the ones above.
Each client is unique and each one is important. We
applaud their hard work, commitment, and willingness
to make hard choices
If you would like to make a difference the the lives of
entrepreneurs like the ones above, please help us by
making a donation. Donations can be sent to 6210
Dollarway Road, Suite 5-1, Pine Bluff, AR 71602 or
you can click on the link below to make an online
donation.
At alt.Consulting we believe that the
opportunity for transforming low-wealth
communities lies in locally driven businesses and we
work hard to support those communities and
businesses.
Donate Now
If you would like more information on any of the
businesses featured in this newsletter, or if you
would like to contact them, please call Deborah
Slayton at 870-348-5406 or you can e-mail
Deborah for additional information.
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