Expanded Business Counseling Sought

Increasing free small business counseling services in the San Fernando Valley is the goal of the newly appointed president of the Small Business Development Center of North Los Angeles County.

Lance Stevenson, who took over as president last month, said Tuesday that he will seek more funding to increase outreach services by the organization, which is funded by the state and U. S. Small Business Administration.

“I want to be much more proactive in that I would like to develop outreach field offices, and I want to obtain financing to enable me to add additional financial business counselors,” Stevenson said.

The center, which is based in Van Nuys, has two full-time counselors who provide counseling, business workshops and seminars for small businesses in the Valley. All services are free.

Stevenson said he would like at least two more business counselors to go “door-to-door” helping develop business plans and marketing strategies for businesses.