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The program was hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors through its PartnerAmerica program, which is designed to give mayors around the country tools to help businesses in their communities thrive. Those who own or are looking to launch businesses in Norwalk were able to connect with organizations that would provide guidance, financing, loans and other resources.
“At the U.S. Conference of Mayors, small business is big business. We know that it’s really small businesses that create movement in the economy and get things going,” said Jeff Bean of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “This is part of our program to try to get small businesses the information they need to try to increase their profits and sales.”
The U.S. Conference of Mayors also bestowed Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling with its 2014 Small Business Advocate Award for his work to promote small businesses in the Norwalk community.
“We know that the small businesses in our communities are the economic drivers,” Rilling said. “It’s always nice when you have that big corporation move in, but oftentimes they’re here for a short time and then they move on someplace else. The small business owners, the moms and pops of the world, they stay, and they invest in the community for years and years. Their children go to our schools, their grandchildren go to our schools, so we know how important it is that they survive and that they thrive.”
Newly appointed Norwalk Economic Development Director Liz Stocker introduced herself to the business owners in attendance, and let them know she would be a resource to help them grow.
“I am planning to work with the small businesses that are here today all the way up to the large corporations that are international in scope. The goal is very simple, we want to make Norwalk a place where we really are the place for you to start and grow your business.”
Business owners were also given short presentations on a number of organizations and programs that assist businesses looking to start or expand. These include the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, SCORE, the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, the Connecticut Procurement Technical Assistance Program, the Norwalk Public Library, the United States Small Business Administration and the Small Business Express Program.
The keynote speaker for the event was Lou Mosca, executive vice president and chief operating officer of American Management Services, who spoke about how in order to thrive, businesses need well-trained employees, customers who they know and who love them, and liquidity to handle problems.
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