(Washington, DC) — Amidst an economic downturn that is impacting local businesses and shuttering the doors on some of our area’s small business assistance centers, the Enhanced Business Information Center (eBIC), a division of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), is still going strong and rolling out new classes and initiatives to assist small business owners throughout the city.
The eBIC, located at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, provides support, resources, and technical assistance to current or prospective District of Columbia business owners. The center is a one-stop shop for business resources, providing one-on-one business assessments, computer access, business planning software, and a regular register of monthly training courses and workshops to address a broad variety of start-up and development issues, including establishing a business, building business credit and loans, business management and development, accounting, marketing, and business certification in the District.
The eBIC has proven invaluable to local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, especially during these difficult economic times. In 2008, the eBIC presented nearly 120 classes, which had over 1,300 attendees. Additionally, the center assisted approximately 3,400 local entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners with services and resources to help them start and grow businesses in the District.
“We understand the challenges businesses are going through right now, and we welcome and encourage any business owners in the District who need assistance growing, developing, or sustaining their businesses to utilize DSLBD’s many resources,” said agency acting director Lee Smith.
Charged with fostering economic growth and the development of emerging District-based business enterprises, DSLBD and its eBIC are poised to serve the city’s business community. For more information about the agency, please call (202) 727-3900. To find out about upcoming courses, to register for courses, or to schedule an appointment at the eBIC, please call (202) 727-2241 or email ebic@dc.gov.