Get a checklist for your understanding of what a community lender or even a bank is looking for as it evaluates applications. Preparation of your business is the key to success on your first try.By Community Economic Development Fund

There are many different sources for borrowed small business capital. But the terms can be very different and the net costs to the borrower can vary enormously. Be careful and be sure you understand how the products differ from traditional business lending from banks, credit unions or community lenders like CEDF.…

Nonprofit community lender organizations, just like banks and credit unions, provide responsible, affordable small business lending. Learn the reasons why some applicants stumble and how to prepare for success.By Community Economic Development Fund

Nonprofit community lender organizations, just like banks and credit unions, provide responsible, affordable small business lending. Learn the important factors to consider when you prepare to apply.By Community Economic Development Fund

Learn about CEDF's approach to financial competence to help small business owners.By Community Economic Development Fund

Some people appear to be born entrepreneurs. Others seem to end up owning businesses having never contemplated that career. But is that the same as being an entrepreneur?By Community Economic Development Fund

What do you do when you lose 85% of your business? Stephen Richmond of Painting with a Twist in Hartford describes his approach.By Community Economic Development Fund

Karen Hinds of Workplace Success Group explains why small business owners need to be engaged with diversity, inclusion and equity and how it can improve their success.By Community Economic Development Fund

What makes some entrepreneurs better suited for the most emotionally challenging part of business ownership -- uncertainty? Dr. Len Wysocki has insights into the skills required.By Community Economic Development Fund

Michael Cervellino of Belle Academy had figured out how to deal with COVID-19 long before the pandemic hit through charity events and old fashioned public relations.By Community Economic Development Fund

As a small business owner, it’s likely you’ll have to deal with change on a daily basis. Ralph Mesite shares how he prepared for facing COVID-19 in a way that few others had the opportunity.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 20-2: Employee personal problems. Organizational development consultant and author Bruce Tulgan explains you can be be humane, thoughtful and take the right approach to dealing with employees who bring personal issues to work.By Community Economic Development Fund

By Community Economic Development Fund

By Community Economic Development Fund

Michael Mongillo of Eleven Arrows Consulting points out the solutions are surprisingly straight forward and lie in good information and honest, candid and effective communication.By Community Economic Development Fund

Small business owners might wonder what happened to the world where they could dial their banker on the phone and arrange for a loan in a snap. As CEDF celebrates its 25th anniversary, President and CEO Jim Bzdyra looks back over the changes that impacted commercial banking.By Community Economic Development Fund

Problems in business with money? Maybe it's all in your head. Corrin Gibbs Burke, CFP, explains the emotional side of what none of us can live without, and how using archetypes helps us understand pitfalls and tendencies that interfere with small business success.By Community Economic Development Fund

Imagine racking up big debt and betting all on opening a small store only to find out the next day a big box competitor had come to town. Nick Tarzia, explains how he survived by finding out what his customers wanted and how it eventually led to success owning Awesome Toys & Gifts in Stamford and Westport.…

Richard Portelance, CEO of CareerPath Mobile, developed a great solution that users loved, but the paying customers weren't ready to adopt it. What he did next explains how to move your business into the right place at the right time for the right customer. Thanks to Nelson Merchan of the CT SBDC for introducing his client.…

Episode 19-3: Are you asking the right questions about your business? Do you have the right business model? Are you solving problems for customers? Are you an entrepreneur or a small business owner? Middletown-based Anthony Price of LootScout wrote a book, "Get the loot and run," to explore questions like these.…

Episode 19-2: Innovation doesn't come from brainstorming. It sneaks up on you like a cat at the intersection of experience and observation. Chris Raimo, owner of Happy Cat Hotel in Windsor, CT, explains how his concept evolved into what might become an industry disruptor.By Community Economic Development Fund

The most important and hardest element of a small business owner's role is handling people. But building a harmonious team requires careful attention to the staff as well as polishing your own management skills.Do you waste valuable hours dealing with workplace conflict? Do you find yourself attending to the same silly problems over and over again …

The most important and hardest element of a small business owner's role is handling people. But building a harmonious team requires careful attention to the staff as well as polishing your own management skills.Do you waste valuable hours dealing with workplace conflict? Do you find yourself attending to the same silly problems over and over again …

The most important and hardest element of a small business owner's role is handling people. But building a harmonious team requires careful attention to the staff as well as polishing your own management skills.Do you waste valuable hours dealing with workplace conflict? Do you find yourself attending to the same silly problems over and over again …

Episode 19-1: Devon Scanlon, owner/operator of Chick-Fil-A in Brookfield, CT, shares her methods for maintaining fidelity to the simplest of ideas -- how you make your customers feel -- and why this can make sales and profits soar.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-12: In an era emphasizing referrals, social media and testimonials, growing a consumer-facing business is not just a matter of advertising but about building a community of enthusiasts who are wild about your offering and willing to help evangelize to like-minded. Jennifer Lord explains how its done at Twist Yarn in Niantic.…

Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper use of news releases and other avenues of communication…

Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper use of news releases and other avenues of communication…

Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper use of news releases and other avenues of communication…

Almost every small business owner would love to have their operation featured in the local newspaper. Lee Howard, award winning journalist for The Day, will help you learn: -- What kind of story is likely to attract media interest. -- How to make an effective pitch for your idea. -- The proper use of news releases and other avenues of communication…

Episode 18-11: Turning work into play is easy for Laura Beckham of New London's Berry's Ice Cream and Candy Bar. Laura explains how she adds fun to the recipes to keep her team motivated and her customers enchanted.By Community Economic Development Fund

As a small business owner or solopreneur, leveraging social media to market your business and identify leads is essential. LinkedIn is considered to be the primary social media platform for B2B connections, with over 500 million global users. This workshop will provide you with the best practices to incorporate into your social media strategy to gu…

As a small business owner or solopreneur, leveraging social media to market your business and identify leads is essential. LinkedIn is considered to be the primary social media platform for B2B connections, with over 500 million global users. This workshop will provide you with the best practices to incorporate into your social media strategy to gu…

Episode 18-10: As a business owner, do you have the personalities of the entrepreneur, technician and manager in balance inside your head? Do you have your time appropriately segmented and planned for efficiency? Bob Walsh, CEO of Sound Coaching Inc., in Bridgeport explains how he makes it work.By Community Economic Development Fund

Dreaming of freeing your business from an unaffordable rent or an unresponsive landlord? Buying a building with a commercial mortgage is very different experience than a residential real estate transaction. Learn what’s involved so you can prepare. Presenter is Karen Tessman, CEDF director of lending.…

Dreaming of freeing your business from an unaffordable rent or an unresponsive landlord? Buying a building with a commercial mortgage is very different experience than a residential real estate transaction. Learn what’s involved so you can prepare. Presenter is Karen Tessman, CEDF director of lending.…

Dreaming of freeing your business from an unaffordable rent or an unresponsive landlord? Buying a building with a commercial mortgage is very different experience than a residential real estate transaction. Learn what’s involved so you can prepare. Presenter is Karen Tessman, CEDF director of lending.…

Episode 18-9: Innovation doesn’t require high investment and complicated research and development. Dave Sagers explains how you can engage with your customers to accomplish true innovation.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-8: What’s the most effective way to make use of business networking opportunities? Sean Moore, president, Midstate Chamber of Commerce, explains the secrets of the fellowship of master networkers.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-7: How many years would you be willing to strive to see your concept brought to fruition? Evan Dobos of Bantam, CT, explains the role of perseverance in the creation of CivicLift, a software platform designed to increase civic engagement for towns and cities.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-6: What would you do if you had an idea for a business in an industry you knew well, then you meticulously planned, cautiously financed and carefully launched the operation only to find it was all wrong for the market? Robert Webb of Charter Oak Scanning in Stonington, CT, explains how flexibility preserved and grew his enterprise.…

Episode 18-5: What happens when you fail to go "above and beyond" for your customers? Tony Scacca, owner of First & Last Tavern of Middletown, CT, offers lessons from decades in hospitality that can apply to any industry.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-4: How do you use processes and systems to guide a business that depends on people and relationships? Caleb Roseme of Assured Quality Homecare in Norwich, CT, explains his approach.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-3: Katie Hughes Nelson, owner of Perk cafes and the Perk on Wheels food truck, discusses the challenges and rewards of adhering to green values and other principles of social responsibility.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-2: If business owners stand by their principles, will their customers come? Will they stay? Or will the owners roll over?Paul Gallant and Lynn Felici-Gallant discuss the challenges of ethical sourcing and transparency in their business, Paul's Custom Pet Food based in New Milford, CT.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 18-1: How does a business owner find work-life balance? Dr. Leonard Wysocki is a licensed psychologist and consultant in executive coaching, management training and organizational development. His private practice is based in Connecticut and he lectures at the University of New Haven.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 17-4: Ray Boyd, owner of The Training Floor, Samford, CT, explains how he applies mental discipline to serving the clients of his fitness business and his own operation.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 17-3: Dawn Reshen-Doty of Benay Enterpreises in Danbury, CT, explains her approach to fostering teamwork in her organization.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 17-2: Learn the advantages of implementing a shared values program in your company culture. Jamie D'Agostino of Netology in Stamford, CT, explains the process he used and the focus it has brought to his team.By Community Economic Development Fund

Episode 17-1: Are you trying to get out of production and into management?Interview with CEDF client Aubrey Schmalle of Sensational Achievements, Stamford, CT.By Community Economic Development Fund