National Small Business Week Celebrates Local Entrepreneurs in Old Pasadena

Against the backdrop of National Small Business Week, from April 28 to May 4, Pasadena City College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) emerges as a key player in supporting local entrepreneurs.

With a range of programs and workshops aimed at addressing challenges like accessing capital and finding employees, the SBDC underscores the crucial role of free resources in fostering small business growth and success.

National Small Business Week showcases the triumphs and tribulations of small business professionals across every U.S. state and territory.

Organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the event shines a spotlight on the vital contributions of small businesses, which generate two-thirds of new U.S. jobs annually.

Locally, the choice of Old Pasadena as the event’s center adds resonance to the occasion, spotlighting nearly 200 local businesses that form the economic backbone of the community. Managed by the Old Pasadena Management District, the week-long festivities include a diverse array of activities that celebrate the resilience and ingenuity of local entrepreneurs.

Donald J. Loewel, Director of the Pasadena City College SBDC, said as far as the SBDC is concerned, every week is Small Business Week, with a commitment to ongoing workshops, one-on-one advising, and active participation in associated events. Nevertheless, National Small Business Week is “incredibly important” because most business owners are unaware of the free resources available to help them, Loewel said.

“The SBA was founded in the 1950s with a mission to grow the US economy by supporting small business owners, and they have several resource partners that offer free support to help businesses start, grow and succeed,” he said. “In addition to the seven Small Business Development Centers in LA County, there are three Women’s Business Centers, with a new one launching here at PCC next month, a large SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) chapter and a brand new Veterans Business Outreach Center or VBOC. Together, we have over 100 advisors who are available to meet one-on-one over Zoom with business owners and/or their teams.”

The Pasadena SBDC at PCC itself has over 20 advisors, including several general business strategists, two lawyers, several marketing and social media specialists and an HR expert, just to name a few. It also has a tech startup team that can help with everything from idea conception and feasibility to pitch decks and raising equity capital. The SBDC also has a large network of partners who help with the outreach effort, Loewel said.

“These include organizations like Innovate Pasadena, Caltech, Pasadena Bioscience, as well as the City of Pasadena Economic Development team and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few,” he continued. “We are also supported by all of the local, county, state and federal elected officials. Together, we provide a network of support for startups and small businesses. But many have no idea we are here, and that is the most important thing about National Small Business Week.”

Loewel said the Pasadena SBDC’s repertoire of programs range from business plan workshops to assistance in navigating financial complexities. With challenges like accessing capital, managing costs, and finding employees looming large for small businesses in Pasadena, the SBDC’s multifaceted support system becomes indispensable, he said.

Loewel said COVID-19 was horrible for local business, but many small businesses in Pasadena were able to weather storms of uncertainty, adapting and evolving to survive.

“We are seeing many new businesses opened as people create side-gigs or take the plunge into business ownership, and we have helped many of them get off to a good start,” he said.

Looking ahead, the SBDC is charting a course focused on serving a diverse spectrum of entrepreneurs, with initiatives tailored to empower women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color. Strategically, the SBDC wants to focus on serving more women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color, and this includes tech-sector outreach and typical main-street businesses.

“This is an exciting time for businesses in the San Gabriel Valley,” Loewel said. “Experienced business owners will tell you that entrepreneurship is hard, and that there are always challenges. But small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that is why the local, state and federal governments, along with economic workforce engines like Pasadena City College, support them by investing in organizations like the SBDC.”

For more information about the Pasadena SBDC at PCC, visit https://pccsbdc.org/.

To learn more about supporting small businesses in Old Pasadena during National Small Business Week, visit www.oldpasadena.org/visit/events/2024/april/national-small-business-week-2/.