Small Business Center

3060 Wilson Road   ◙   Birmingham, Alabama  35221   ◙   Phone: (205) 925-1039   ◙   Fax:  (205) 925-1052

 

Mrs. Eva O. Carter

Dean of Educational Support Services

 

ecarter@lawsonstate.edu



Various Speakers for Enrichment

 

 

PARTNERS

 

STAFF

 

Mrs. Vernona H. Williams, Special Projects Director/GM BSEP Coordinator Vacant, Secretary

 

 

The Small Business Center, Hereafter called the SBC, was established in 1996 to provide training and consulting services for existing and potential business owners.  In addition to these services, the SBC formed partnerships with business and governmental entities including General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, Alabama Power, Bellsouth and the Birmingham Board of Education.  The SBC has also been designated as training for business and industry site.  This has given the center the opportunity to provide specialized training for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama.  This opportunity entails providing training for Honda’s employees on the techniques and procedures of automobile painting.

 

Through its partnerships with Mercedes Benz, the SBC has provided an opportunity for Mercedes to utilize its high technology down draft paint booth thereby providing training for their vendors, some as far away as Canada.

 

The partnership with General Motors has allowed the SBC to provide state-of-the-art training in auto collision repair for technicians in the automobile industry.  This is the only program of its kind in the State of Alabama and the only one at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).  Students in the program learn theory for eight weeks to apply the theory, and learn other procedures and processes that relate to the automobile industry.

 

In partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, The SBC has provided free income tax preparation for low-income taxpayers.  Over the past ten years, over 988 returns have been filed.  In addition to this service, the SBC has extended the Low Income Tax Program to include individuals who speak English as a second language. 

 

In cooperation with Meridian Community College of Meridian, MS; the SBC implemented a Jumpstart Program with a start-up grant from the Kaufman Foundation.  This fifteen-week program was designed to train would-be entrepreneurs on all facets of starting and operating a business.  In the spring of 2001, ten students graduated from the program.

 

In addition to the specific programs and activities mentioned above, the SBC has offered specialized services and workshops in business, such as building and maintaining credit worthiness, and the ABC’s of starting a business.

 

Finally, the SBC has provided basic computer training for senior citizens, such as Introduction to Computers, PowerPoint and Navigating the Web.

 

 

PARTNERS