For years redevelopment agencies and chambers of commerce have supported programs to build the small-business sector and have gone to great lengths to lure-in businesses from other states. Now Henderson is taking that a step further, with a pilot program designed to take the city's most promising small businesses to the next level.

The Henderson BusinessStar program, launched in July, provides a select group of small-business owners with customized one-on-one business coaching through a partnership with the city, the Henderson Business Resource Center and UNLV. The business resource center is dedicating one counselor entirely to this program, which plans to help four or five businesses at a time. The participants get access to free seminars and training from experts at the city, UNLV and the Small Business Administration. The idea is to give the selected business owners the tools needed for their enterprises to grow and succeed.

"What I would like to achieve is to see these companies go to the next level of success. To go from a small company to a medium-sized company or from a medium-sized company to a large company," said Henderson economic development manager Bob Cooper, the program's organizer. "We're looking for people who will create new jobs and create new tax revenues and help to diversify the economy. And who knows? They could be the next Microsoft."

The program is currently operated as a pilot program with a $40,000 budget from the city. The first four participants — Margate Entertainment, IC3D, Quality Corrections and Inspections, and Specialty Vehicles — are nearly through the program, which culminates in a recognition ceremony. The program hopes to help about 12 small businesses each year.

Because the program requires a serious commitment of resources from the city and time from the participants, the selection process is difficult. Participating businesses are selected by a committee looking for those business owners most likely to be willing to put in the time and whose business has the most potential for growth.

"It's a screening process to see if they really have the growth potential. Because we want to see a company that's going to add jobs and move up and up and up," Cooper said. "We're looking for a commitment from the person that they're willing to put in the hours necessary and be open to the counseling. Not every business owner is the type that wants to listen to the advice. It takes a unique personality to be receptive to that."

Henderson's program is not the only place to go for small business advice. The Small Business Administration offers similar services through its SCORE program, which matches small business owners with retired business owners and professionals who volunteer as business coaches. Clark County offers free and low-cost seminars for small and disadvantaged business owners and an annual business expo. The Henderson program differs from all of these in that it aims to give small business owners access to the most pertinent of all available resources at once, along with in-depth business counseling and educational opportunities.

"He's not only coaching these people but he's introducing them to resources in the community beyond what he can do," Cooper said of the counselor working on the project, Larry Vierra.

The Henderson BusinessStar program was not developed overnight. It was born out of another business development project in Henderson in which city and business leaders make the rounds of the small businesses each week, visiting the owners to find out what their needs are. After seven years of pounding the pavement, a major trend became apparent.

"What we found is we have some really neat people here who have small businesses who are just on the verge of growing really large. But the common denominator is that they know a lot about the nuts and bolts of their trade, but they maybe don't have a firm grasp on the accounting or how to help their business grow," Cooper said.

After talking to Mayor Jim Gibson and the business resource center, the program concept emerged. After the first round of recruitment, the city has about 10 businesses on the waiting list for the program. All that remains to be seen is whether the businesses involved meet their objectives.

"The ultimate goal is to prove that the program works and to continue the program. Because it is a pilot program, we want to show how it has succeeded," Cooper said. "We have a lot of benchmarks for them to hit so we can go to the counsel to see if this is something they want to see continue in the future."

The North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Holiday Open House at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the chamber at 3345 W. Craig Rd. Attendees are asked to bring a new unwrapped gift or toy for a needy student at Lowman Elementary. RSVP by Dec. 1 by calling the chamber at 642-9595 or log on to 
www.northlasvegaschamber.com.

The North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Foundation is organizing an Adopt-a-Student program for needy children. The program will raise funds for needy students and will culminate with a luncheon, complete with Santa Claus, at the school on Dec. 15. For more information, contact the chamber at 642-9595. Donations must be received by Dec. 12.

The Nevada Small Business Development Center is hosting a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification workshop at 9 a.m. Dec. 12 at UNLV's Paradise Campus (851 Tropicana Ave.) in room 103 A of building 100. Hank Pinto will teach business owners how to navigate the DBE process and take questions from the audience. The event is free, but participants must pre-register by calling 895-4270.