Stony Brook University SBDC/NYSERDA Highlight Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Far-reaching initiative intertwines expert views of industry landscape with free SBDC small-business-growth counseling services
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| Stony Brook University’s Small Business Development Center team. |
STONY BROOK, NY, March 9, 2012 – A comprehensive, three-year-long program conducted by the Stony Brook University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in coordination with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is providing a platform for Long Island energy businesses to grow and prosper.
The initiative featured a series of 15 free informational workshops that concluded with the March 8 session, “Renewable Energy Businesses: The Nuts and Bolts,” held at the Stony Brook University Research & Development Park SBDC facility. Prominent energy and small-business experts participating in the session included SBDC Associate Director Gloria Glowacki; Brookhaven Town Industrial Development Agency Deputy Executive Director Yves Michel; Renewable Energy Long Island Executive Director Gordian Raacke; and Suffolk County Planning Commission Chairman David Calone.
Key workshop speakers also included Suffolk County Planning Commission Director Sarah Lansdale; Suffolk County Economic Development Department Acting Energy Director Lisa Broughton; Babylon Town Energy Director and Sustainability Officer Dorian Dale; and Islip Town Economic Development Department Director Bill Mannix.
“This group represents an influential cross-section of energy-industry and business-development leaders,” said Glowacki, Associate Director of the SBDC. “Our goal in developing the workshop series and the overall energy-education program has been to provide Long Island entrepreneurs with a powerful springboard for launching and growing successful renewable-energy organizations.”
Glowacki noted that the overall program provides free, confidential SBDC counseling services for area proprietors; a newly-available guidebook addressing the complex issues of new energy sources relating to Long Island businesses; and complimentary DVDs of previous, informative workshops.
The March 8 workshop also featured a discussion panel with successful renewable-energy business owners, town and county government permit personnel and other leaders in the industry. Topics included codes and building permits, rebates and tax credits and the Suffolk Unified Permit Portal (SUPP) that is being designed as a single-site resource tying together the various entities that are involved in building application reviews and the issuance of operational certificates.
Suffolk Planning Commission Chairman Calone said the March 8 forum is “the latest example of how the public and private sectors are working together to promote business growth on Long Island. This is part of an ongoing effort to identify, promote and seize these opportunities.”
Brookhaven Town Industrial Development Agency Deputy Executive Director Michel said, “Recent, collaborative efforts involving Long Island’s governmental and business communities is providing area entrepreneurs with significant, new advantages.”
As one example of this collective effort, Michel cited the energy series guidebook that was conceived and published by the SBDC. The publication contains up-to-date information contributed by some of the region’s most notable science-based and research groups including Renewable Energy Long Island, the Long Island Power Authority and the Long Island Association.
The guidebook, entitled “New Energy on Long Island,” explores opportunities associated with alternative forms of energy such as hydrogen and natural gas, solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy and biofuels. Copies of the guidebook are available through the SBDC.
Suffolk Planning Commission Director Lansdale noted that small businesses are the engine for economic growth in the county. “Participation in programs such as the SBDC-NYSERDA series will help small-business owners gain a clearer picture of short-term and long-term opportunities,” she said.
The SBDC/NYSERDA new energy program culminates with a networking event to be held on March 20 from 3 pm – 7 pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 1730 North Ocean Avenue in Holtsville, NY. The forum is free of charge and open to entrepreneurs who would like to meet and learn from prominent energy-industry officials.
Registration is requested for the March 20 networking event. To register or for additional information, please call Leslie Rurup at the Stony Brook University SBDC at (631) 632-9837, send an e-mail tosbdc@stonybrook.edu or visit www.stonybrook.edu/sbdc/events .
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© Stony Brook University 2012
