Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2008

Richland exploring Web portal for small businesses

By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND -- Easy access to information for small businesses can potentially help grow new ones and generate jobs in a community, economic development experts say.

That's why Richland is leading the efforts to develop a regional entrepreneurial Web portal as a resource for small businesses in the Tri-Cities. Recently, the city discussed the idea with about a dozen business and public leaders and development experts.

The goal was to start a discussion about a potential growth tool recommended by Austin, Texas-based consultant Angelou Economics in 2006, said Gary Ballew, Richland's economic development manager.

"Everybody seems interested in pursuing it," he said.

The portal is expected to be a one-stop shop to guide potential entrepreneurs to develop a business plan, look for financing, network with others and search for relevant information quickly.

"I think it's a great idea," said C. Mark Smith, Richland's former economic development manager.

Potential entrepreneurs will be able to spend more time developing their business instead of running around to learn about resources available in the Tri-Cities, he said.

Though many organizations -- including the Economic Development Office at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and WorkSource Columbia Basin -- have websites that offer information relevant for business owners, the efforts to develop a Web portal will help locate gaps in service, Smith said.

"It'll show what we have and what we don't have," he said.

"Ours will be a vertical Web portal geared toward a niche audience," said Ronalea Smith, an intern who's helping the city with the plan.

A portal presents information from multiple sources more efficiently than a Web page with links, she said.

The Tri-City portal will require input from local chambers of commerce, Tri-City Development Council, city governments, port districts, Columbia Basin College, Washington State University and other entrepreneurial support organizations, Ronalea Smith said.

There are several models that are being considered, she said. It depends on what type of services participants want to provide and the money available to run the program.

The portal can link currently available support services, include information about online classes and webinars related to business needs, and explore the possibility of having a Spanish version for greater reach.

Ronalea Smith analyzed the Kansas City portal, KCSource-Link, and Minnesota's BizPathways to come up with some ideas. Each portal has some unique tools, she said. For instance, the Kansas City portal also allows users to call a professional to help find the right resources.

Community leaders can choose the best features available for the Tri-City portal, she said.

It may cost about $30,000 to $40,000 to get the project started, and there will be annual maintenance costs, Ballew said.

The key is to get the project funded on an ongoing basis, he said. Funding could come from different public and private sources.

"It'll take money and commitment over a long period of time. And if you do that benefits are going to be great for our community," C. Mark Smith said.