A local developer, a local bank and Angelina College's Small Business Development Center have teamed up to provide information to area residents interested in starting a small business or operating a franchise at the first Entrepreneur Expo, Nov. 12-14 in Lufkin's Garden District.
The expo will be open Thursday from 5-8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 2-4 p.m. Thursday's opening will coincide with a Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours program.
Joel Andrews/The Lufkin Daily News |
David Miles, president of Card-Mile Enterprises, is the developer of the Garden District. 'There are a number of national franchises that should do well here and they can help with store design, marketing, training and operations to help ensure success,' Miles said.
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Representatives will be located near the PetSmart store at 1905 Tulane Drive in Lufkin to answer questions about how to start a business, obtain a franchise, capital needs, how to lease retail space and provide general information about starting and operating a business.
"There is no better time for an entrepreneur to pursue their dream to own their own business since there are signs we are coming out of the recession, interest rates are at or near all-time lows and the Highway 59 and Loop 287 project is about complete," said David Miles, president of Card-Mile Enterprises, the developer of the Garden District. Miles can provide information about available franchises.
"There are a number of national franchises that should do well here and they can help with store design, marketing, training and operations to help ensure success," Miles said.
Larry Cain, a consultant from Angelina College's Small Business Development Center will have information designed to help business owners succeed.
"We're here to provide a wide range of consultant services for just about every aspect of business ownership and operation. Those services are free," Cain said.
He added that independent businesses not affiliated with a national franchise are also candidates for the consulting service.
"If someone has an idea for a business, we'll offer advice on how to proceed with everything from financing to operation," Cain said.
Representatives from Commercial Bank of Texas will be available to provide information about what a business needs to start up.
"We'll be able to tell prospective business owners about financing and business service products we offer, to let entrepreneurs know what Commercial Bank has to offer and how we can assist business development," said Valena Spradley, associate vice president for Business Development for Commercial Bank.
Miles is adding the 15,000-square-feet Park Plaza and the 12,000-square-feet Fashion District to the Garden District. A number of businesses have leased spaced including Cellular One, Texas Bistro and Coffee, CardSmart, Apricot Lane Boutique, Blithe Boutique, Expressive Images and Bare Minerals and Glitz and Glam. The Fashion District will have a runway for hosting fashion shows.
"We want these new developments to offer destination shopping by combining a wide range of shops," Miles said.
Miles said a number of tenants locating in the Garden District will be there to answer questions to help other in the process.
