PACOIMA : Business Center Expands Its Hours

The Pacoima Business Assistance Center has expanded its hours and is now open five days a week.

Free business and financial consulting services are available from the center to merchants who own businesses in Pacoima and to entrepreneurs planning to open businesses in the Pacoima Enterprise Zone.

The center, operated by the nonprofit Valley Economic Development Center, is funded by the city’s Community Development Department.

Open by appointment only for the last two years, the organization’s management decided “to take a much more proactive stance in the community,” said Roberto Barragan, program manager at the center.

“In the last two years, we have seen an increased need to help create new economic development,” Barragan said.

The center provides management, technical and financial assistance to merchants who need help arranging loans and financing or developing procurement, marketing and personnel programs, Barragan said. The center is also used as a resource by established business owners. Barragan gave the example of an automobile supply store owner who came to the center in search of help because his sales have decreased steadily in the last few years.

“He needs to better market his products so he can compete with the chain stores moving into the area,” Barragan said. “So we helped him develop a marketing survey for his customers. It will help him determine what kind of advertising works and what doesn’t and help him identify where his customer base is located.”

The Pacoima Business Center is at 11243 Van Nuys Blvd. Hours are 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays; 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, when it closes from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for lunch.