January 17, 2014
Page 27
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
FROM PAGE 26
where there's a host of free services
available. Hickman reported that 58
businesses were recently assisted
by SBDC, 20 of which were owned
by women, 10 owned by minorities
and 5 by veterans.
"I looked at businesses that we
worked with in Worcester County
since the video terminal VOLT fund
was launched," said Hickman, indi-
cating that fell between April and
December of 2013.
SBDC offered free assistance to
those businesses in areas like mar-
keting, management and financial
planning.
"We spent a little over 580 hours
working with those businesses,"
said Hickman. "The majority of the
time spent with marketing and sales
... We see an awful lot of business-
es come in sometimes looking for
financing and their challenge maybe
is a sales issue."
The county sang SBDC's praises
during the meeting, with Merry
Mears, assistant director of Eco-
nomic Development, calling the
group "top-notch."
"I would just like to say how ap-
preciative our office is to SBDC.
That's a top-notch operation there,"
she told the LDC. "They have tre-
mendous resources there. They
have people who have owned their
own businesses, who have walked
the walk and talked the talk, who
are great resources for folks that
need the help, the consultation on
establishing and growing their own
business."
Michael Day, director of Econom-
ic and Community Development in
Berlin, also has a high opinion of
SBDC. Representatives from the
agency set up shop in Berlin every
week, and Day has observed a lot
of traffic including many regulars.
"A lot of them are repeat. Once
they start a process, they keep com-
ing back every week or every other
week," he said.
With as much potential as VOLT
has, Delegate Mike McDermott ask-
ed if it will soon be tapped dry.
"Does the money that goes out,
when it comes back as the loan
money, does it go back into the
same fund and this is it re-direct-
ed?" he asked. "Is it like a self-sus-
taining fund that they're setting up?"
Mears told McDermott that VOLT
is self-sustaining. It is managed
jointly for the area by Worcester and
the Anne Arundel Economic Devel-
opment Corporation and will be re-
plenished regularly at least for as
long as it's offered by the state.
"We haven't gotten to the point
yet where we're seeing a lot of mon-
ey come back in because it's the
first year," said Mears. "But, yes, it
will be a fund that will continue to
operate."
... VOLT Offers
Low-Interest
Business Loans
Fo r Th e
D
ANA
T
RUITT
Fundraiser
Thank you to all who were a part of the Dana Truitt Fundraiser at Seacrets on
Friday, Jan. 10. The generosity of the community was overwhelming. More
than 300 people attended Dana's fundraiser and made the event a huge suc-
cess!
Thank You To ...
Seacrets For Donating The Venue Along With Beer And Wine
The Angler And Julie Smith For Coordinating Food
Jessica Lynch For The Endless Dedication To Making This Event A Success
Greene Turtle North For Pre-Selling Tickets
Madison Beach Motel For Pre-Selling Tickets
The Music Line-Up: Poole Brothers, Lauren Glick, Kaleb Brown And DJ Wax
Shawn And Amanda Maness For Donating Back The 50/50 Raffle
Bank Of Ocean CIty For Helping Establish The Fund
D3 Corp For All The Help With The Website And Printing
The Ocean City And Ocean Pines Chambers Of Commerce And The
Downtown Association For The E-Blasts
Barrett Chevrolet For Their Help With Towing And Getting A New Key
Cut For Dana's Car
The Many People And Businesses That Donated At The
Bank Of Ocean City And On The Website, www.ocrooms.com
· Satellite Restaurant
· Artist Crystal Collins
· Dana Marie Photography
· Greene Turtle North
· Socialite Jewelry
· Holiday Inn Suites
· Candy Kitchens
· South Moon Under
· Sunset Grille
· A Perfect Face
· Ragamuffin
· Wockenfuss
· The Shark On The
Harbor
· Liquid Assets
· Chauncey's Surf Shop
· Malibu's Surf Shop
· Greene Turtle West
· Comfort Inn Gold Coast
· Hooters West OC
· Children's Book Garden
· Studio S
· Git R Done Cleaning
· First Shore Federal
Savings & Loan Assn.
· Coconut Kids
· Park Place Jewelers
· Salon By The Bay
· Artist Ron Michaels
· OC Pet Spa
· Tammie Mathias
· Casino Ocean Downs
· Chesapeake Martial Arts
· Ruff Cuts Pet Salon
· Jason And Patrisha Long
(Sea Grass Condo)
· Powerhouse Gym
· Michele Mitchel-Avon
· Crazy Ladyz
· Bombshell Boutique
· Starbucks
· Lighthouse Sound
Restaurant
· Kite Loft
· Fager's Island
· Fish Tales
· Ruark Golf
· Longboard Cafe
· Ocean City Golf Club
· River Run Golf Course
· Rudy Koch
· Orhelein Photography
· Frontier Town
· Parties Your Way
· Phillips Restaurant
· RJ Lock & Security
· Quality Inn Boardwalk
· Holiday Inn Oceanfront
Suites
· Blue Ox
· Hilton Suites
· Greene Turtle West
· Blue Ox
· Greene Turtle North
· The Shark On The Harbor
· Dough Roller
· Smitty McGee's
· Domino's
· Outback Steak House
· Emings BBQ
· Bull On The Beach
· Harrison's (Coral Reef)
· Mac's Catering
· Minit Market
· Rice House
· Mione's
· M.R. Ducks
· The Angler
· Desserts By Rita
· Wockenfuss
· Fager's Island
SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS
FOOD DONATIONS
A Special
Thank You
From
Dana Truitt And Spiro And Marianne Buas