BERLIN, N.H. - Three prominent organizations in New Hampshire's North Country have launched Business Services North, a one-stop point of access for businesses seeking services in the region. The effort is a collaboration of White Mountains Community College (WMCC), Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC), and the NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC).

Business Services North will offer small business owners help and solutions by making just one phone call to a common number (603-752-1113 ext. 3062.) Trained business consultants will discuss with callers how the collaborating entities can best meet the needs of the entrepreneur.

"The idea is simple: we want to avoid duplication of efforts, harness our resources, and provide North Country businesses with a single point of contact. Business Services North is an outcome of the collaborative spirit developed while working on an economic development model funded through the Neil and Louise Tillotson Foundation. We have the resources; now we're making them more accessible," said Mary Collins, state director of the NH SBDC. 

Business owners will have access to N.H. SBDC's confidential business management assistance and online e-learning program, WMCC's entrepreneurial counseling and group educational events, and NCIC's business financing, technology related grants, and marketing assistance.

"White Mountains Community College has community at the core of its name. Reaching out to support and promote businesses throughout the North Country region is part of our mission. This collaborative allows for a one-stop point of contact to a range of resources which will support a current business or someone looking to start a business," said Katharine Eneguess, president of White Mountains Community College.

Business Services North is headquartered at White Mountains Community College in Berlin and also accessible at the Northern Community Investment Corporation's office in Lancaster, First Colebrook Bank in Colebrook, and White Mountains Community College at the Littleton Area Learning Center.

"It was time to simplify so business owners can know they are getting the best services for their need. WMCC and SBDC are terrific partners that we are pleased to integrate with," said Jon Freeman, president of the Northern Community Investment Corporation.

The NH Small Business Development Center, an outreach program of the Whittemore School of Business & Economics at the University of New Hampshire, provides confidential, long-term, business management advising and educational programs to New Hampshire businesses. Services are delivered by full-time certified business advisors with MBAs, CPAs and all have owned their own businesses. NH SBDC is a cooperative venture of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire, and the private sector. For more information on NH SBDC, visit www.nhsbdc.org.

Founded in 1966, White Mountains Community College is a comprehensive community college serving the northern half of New Hampshire, as well as adjacent western Maine and eastern Vermont. In addition to associate degrees and nondegree credentials, WMCC provides business support, training and education through the Business Training Center. WMCC is also one of 10 community colleges nationwide engaged in a Virtual Business Incubator project, in which the colleges provide the traditional services of a business incubator, without the presence of a brick and mortar facility. For more information, visit www.wmcc.edu.

Established in 1975, Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC) is a nonprofit, certified community development financial institution working to address regional economic challenges. Today, NCIC continues to build partnerships to develop creative and effective solutions to strengthen individual businesses, communities and the region and to create diverse employment opportunities. For more information visit, www.ncic.org.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.

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