SCORE Picks Ferndale for New Office
(C. Proxmire, The Ferndale 115 News, June 15, 2012)
SCORE, a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses, has opened a satellite office to its Detroit branch inside the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce building at 407 E. 9 Mile. The organization provides a variety of services designed to help entrepreneurs succeed, including mentorship, counseling, workshops and other informational resources.
Detroit SCORE serves all of SE Michigan, with over 70 counselors actively working to help others start their own ventures. These are seasoned businessmen and women who want to help others succeed.
Because of the relationship between the Chamber and SCORE, Chamber members had incredible access to this in-demand service. Now that access is even more intensified.
The location also means easier access for the hundreds of small business owners and potential entrepreneurs who use their services.
“We’re down in the Federal Building in Detroit,” Giles said. “But we’ve got people who come from past Flint, and as far away as Kalamazoo. Having an office here in Ferndale means we are more convenient for people coming out of town.” In addition to the close proximity to I-696 and I-75, the Ferndale office has free parking.
At a May 22, 2012 ribbon cutting, Chamber Director Jennifer Roosenberg said she looks forward to welcoming small business owners from other communities that come to use the SCORE office.
James Jackson, a representative from Representative Sandy Levin’s office, heralded the work of the SCORE volunteers and of the entrepreneurs who will be using their services. “You’re taking a leap of faith when you do that [start a business.] And to have a group of people willing to step up and help others do that says a lot about Ferndale and about the state.”
Prior to opening the office in the Chamber, mentors like Bob Giles would come to the Chamber meeting room to counsel clients who were Chamber members. A similar arrangement exists with other area Chambers. But Ferndale will be their official second home. “We’ve got a longstanding history with SCORE, and we’re excited to see Bob and the other members around here even more,” Roosenberg said.
For more information about Detroit SCORE go to http://www.scoredetroit.org/. For more on the Ferndale Area Chamber check out www.ferndalechamber.com.
