Among the accomplishments of the Business Development Corp. in 2011 was hiring an economic development coordinator, Board President Ray Chaya told city council members Monday night.
Now the BDC is getting down to the business of growing business.
Chaya and Julie Pacette presented the BDC's action plan for 2012, which includes improving the real estate market, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and becoming a friendlier city.
The second half of 2011 was pretty good for the BDC, Chaya said -- six loans for small businesses in Batavia were approved in 2011.
"It was quiet for some time, but has picked up," Chaya said. "Julie being on the street, talking to people, is something we’ve never been able to do before, so I really think it’s going to help drive some new business."
BDC Board Member Gregg Torrey is the group's champion for improving the real estate environment, which will include pushing forward with applications for $400,000 in Main Street grants from the state.
To qualify, property owners must cover at least 60 percent of the project costs.
Pacette said the BDC has already received grant applications totaling $700,000 in project costs and is looking for more applications to consider forwarding to the state for approval.
Pacette said the BDC hopes to get the applications through the process pretty quickly.
"We don't want to miss this construction season," Pacette said. "We hope to get the money on the street working this summer."
Chaya will spearhead efforts to foster a greater entrepreneurial spirit, which could include workshops for businesses on a variety of topics.
Brenda Richardson, manager at Coffee Culture, and City Manager Jason Molino, are champions of the action plan for making Batavia a friendlier city, which covers everything from ramping up customer service training for small businesses to streamlining government processes for small businesses.
Council members seemed to react favorably to the presentation.
"It validates the point we've been saying all along," Councilwoman Patti Pacino said. "We have all of the things to make our city a place where, when you drive through you say, 'I want to live here.' It's very exciting. It's happening."
