Help for Businesses Available at Meeting

It is no secret that many of the small businesses that line this neighborhood’s commercial corridors struggle to survive.

In an effort to remedy hardships often experienced by local merchants, the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting today with John Rooney, president of the Van Nuys-based Valley Economic Development Center, which provides entrepreneurial training and technical assistance to small businesses in the Valley and Los Angeles.

Anyone who needs help in transforming an ailing business, or further boosting a healthy enterprise, can attend, said the chamber’s president, Edward Kussman.

Rooney said he will describe several loan programs the center offers local business owners, as well as its free consulting services.

“Access to capital is a big issue [for Valley businesses],” Rooney said. In addition, “a lot of companies are struggling to keep and to hire quality employees.

“One of the things we’re doing is helping companies in recruiting employees. We also have a service where we can basically assess training needs.”

The noon meeting will be held at Tavern on the Green restaurant, 10400 Glenoaks Blvd. For more information, call (818) 899-7401.