Free business coaching program expands to include Douglas County businesses

These are challenging times for businesses and many entrepreneurs are left without the guidance necessary to build sustainable businesses. Fortunately, the Tahoe Tactical Team is available to assist current and prospective business owners in their entrepreneurial journey. This past week, the Tahoe Tactical Team expanded its business coaching program to include businesses and entrepreneurs in Douglas County due to a grant from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. This grant enables Douglas County residents on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe to be eligible for business mentoring and educational events. These services were previously only available to City of South Lake Tahoe residents via a government-funded grant obtained by the City.

“This is great news for all of us because small business plays such an important role in the entire South Shore’s economy,” said B Gorman, President and CEO of Tahoe Chamber. “It is vital that we give our business owners the skills and knowledge they need to provide them the best chance of success and to help them stave off failure in the critical first few years.”

Since November 2010, the Tahoe Tactical Team program has played a key role in helping many of the South Shore community’s entrepreneurs retain and expand their businesses or start up new ventures. The program has assisted over 140 South Lake Tahoe individuals by providing them the training and skills necessary to launch and operate successful enterprises, as well as giving them the insight to realize their idea may not be viable.

“Long-term, providing support for small businesses is critical because they are a major contributor to the strength of local economy,” said Anne Marie Smith, the Tahoe Tactical Team Program Manager. “Smaller, locally owned businesses provide higher, long-term economic growth not only because they provide job opportunities to our community members but because they use other small businesses for support services.”

Tahoe Tactical Team provides program participants with access to experienced coaches and mentors in addition to intensive workshops regarding business planning and customer service, among other services.

The business coaching program is a government-funded program available through the Tahoe Chamber and supported by the City of South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County. As such, interested parties must qualify for the business coaching program to be eligible to take advantage of these free services. Individuals are encouraged to apply to see if they qualify.

For more detailed information about the program and to download an application, go to www.tahoechamber.org or call (775) 588-1728 ext. 300.