b'A Valuable Resourcefor Business OwnersThe best part? Its free.BY CINDY PERMANDana Kearney turned to the New Jersey Small Business Development Center for help in starting The Village Babies Development Center, her daycare business. Photo by Cindy Perman.W henDanaKearneyswhole curriculum, including a STEM program.en- ered in webinars that you can watch live or on replay sonJaelenwasborn,Kearney didnt know much about being anvia the website; the center will also pair you with a ten years after her twintrepreneur at first. In fact, when a neighbor foundconsultant who can help with a specific issue.girls, she had a toughout there was a building available for rent on ValleyOurtechnicalassistanceincludesmentoring, timefindingchild- Street in South Orange and suggested she move theconsulting, any advisory service for a businessat care.Herhusbanddaycare center there to be able to take care of moreno cost to the business, says Maplewood resident was working days, andkids (there was already a waitlist), she initially saidTendai D. Ndoro, regional director of the NJSBDC she was working a night shift as a registered nurse.no because it seemed too daunting.at Rutgers Newark, which is jointly funded by the She decided to switch to weekend shifts only, so sheI saw the building, looked at the landlord andU.S. Small Business Administration, the NJ Busi-could be home during the week to care for her sonsaid, I cant do this, Kearney says. I had the as- ness Action Center and Rutgers University. Because while her husband was at work. pects of health and safety under my belt, but it waswe are primarily federally funded, it is your tax dol-Afewneighborshadbabiesaroundthesamethe business portion that was a fear. lars at work, Ndoro says.time and when they found out she was home, theyA relative told her about a resource that not a lotThe NJSBDC at Rutgers Newark, which serves asked her if she would consider watching their kids,of New Jersey residents know about or use: the NewEssex County businesses, is one of 11 regional small too. So, Kearney started a small babysitting serviceJerseySmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter.Thebusiness development centers in New Jersey, each af-in her home. Now, that first crew of babies (includ- NJSBDCprovidesfreebusinessadvisoryservicesfiliated with a college or university. ing Jaelen) is heading off to college and Kearneysand training on all aspects of developing and run- The centers serve both established businesses and babysitting service, now known as the Village Babiesning a small business: from planning and marketingstart-ups. Ndoro says established businesses tend to Development Center, cares for nearly 150 kids un- todistribution,funding,employees,e-commerce,have specific problemslike e-commerce or getting der the age of 6. It has a staff of more than 50 and acybersecurity and more. Some of the topics are cov- access to capitalwhereas start-ups tend to need 38/ matters magazine / fall 2023'