‘Building blocks’ of business

Those considering starting their own small business and unsure of where to begin are invited to a free workshop with the Utica Municipal Housing Authority.

Those considering starting their own small business and unsure of where to begin are invited to a free workshop with the Utica Municipal Housing Authority.

“The Building Blocks for Starting a Business” workshop will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20 at the Utica Public Library, 303 Genesee Street, Utica, on the second floor. Parking is in the rear of the building off of Park Avenue. Elevator service is available. The workshop is free and open to the public. A light dinner will be served.

The speakers will be Dr. Pat Laino, executive director of the Business Training Institute Inc. and Donna Rebisz, director of TheWomen’s Business Center of New York State.

Laino has trained hundreds of entrepreneurs, and over 83 percent of her students started and continue to operate businesses that are highly successful. She will cover the basic startup steps that include: how to begin your initial planning, identifying what you want to sell, how to find customers and other essential points to ensure your business will be a success.

Rebisz will speak about how to become a Certified Woman or Minority Owned Business and the advantages.

Housing Authority staff and AmeriCorps members will be on site to provide information on the HUD Section 3 Business Certification Program, and to provide information on other service referrals available. Resources on local business assistance programs will be presented. Women, minorities, youth, immigrants, public housing and Section 8 voucher residents, and low-income people are encouraged to participate.

For more information, call 315-735-5246, ext. 25 or 34, or email cnyhirc@gmail. com. The event can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UticaMHA