Business Planning
Our hope is to see businesses like yours open and prosper, and we can’t stress enough the importance of business planning. We’ve seen some business closings over the years, but generally not among those who forged their plans with care.
Here’s how we can help:
- We supply market information related to trail usage, trail user demographics, town business profiles, and overall economic impact. Visit our Reports & Studies page for more information.
- We can direct you to Small Business Development Centers and others who specialize in helping entrepreneurs with business planning.
- We offer entrepreneurial coaching to ensure that your projections fit with what we know of the market.
- We offer financing to small businesses.
If you’re thinking about expanding or starting your own business, contact us to get started. We’re glad to discuss your plans and the trail market. We also have a business packet with information about the Great Allegheny Passage and our Trail Towns to get you started.
Business Planning Resources
The Progress Fund (business coaching, loans, and market information)
William Prince, Trail Town Program Coordinator
425 West Pittsburgh Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 216-9160 ext 318
www.progressfund.org
Saint Vincent College Small Business Development Center (West Newton, Connellsville, Ohiopyle)
James H. Kunkel, Executive Director
Benedict Hall, 1st Floor
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724) 537-4572
www.stvincent.edu/sbdc
Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center (Confluence, Rockwood, Meyersdale)
Ed Huttenhower, Director
117 Evergreen Drive
P.O. Box 600
Loretto, PA 15940
(814) 472-3200
www.francis.edu/sbdc
Maryland Small Business Development Center (Frostburg, Cumberland, Oldtown)
Mark C. Malec, Regional Director
One Technology Drive, Suite A
Frostburg, MD 21532
(301) 687-1080
mcmalec@frostburg.edu
www.westernmdsbdc.org
Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University
Rebecca Harris, Director
Brawn Hall, Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 365-1253
www.chatham.edu/cwe
University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center
Ann Dugan, Executive Director
First Floor, Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 648-1544
www.entrepreneur.pitt.edu
Duquesne University Small Business Development Center
Mary T. McKinney, Director
108 Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
(412) 396-6233
www.sbdc.duq.edu
Seton Hill University's E-Magnify® Program (women's business center)
Jayne H. Huston, Director
Box 389F, Seton Hill University
Seton Hill Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 830-4625
www.e-magnify.com
Diversity Business Resource Center
Christina Damiano, Executive Director
700 River Avenue, Suite 231
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 322-DBRC (3272)
www.dbrconline.org
Johnstown Area Regional Industries Center for Business Development (Service area: Somerset County)
Linda Thomson, President
1600 JARI Drive
Johnstown, PA 15904
(814) 266-3844
www.jari.com
Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Vickie Swink, Business Development Western Representative
138 Baltimore St., Suite 203
Cumberland, MD 21502
(301) 722-0054
VSwink@choosemaryland.org
Allegany Business Center at Frostburg State University
Keli Mason, Prospects and Marketing
kmason@allconet.org
701 Kelly Road, Suite 400
Cumberland, MD 21502
(800) 555-4080 or (301) 777-5967
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) (Provides counseling and workshops to small businesses)
Saint Vincent College SCORE Chapter 555
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724) 539-7505
SCORE@email.stvincent.edu
www.scorewestco555.org
or
Western Maryland SCORE Chapter 682
Kevin Manovich, Chair
10 S. Mechanic St.
Cumberland, MD 21502
(240) 979-3049
info@score-wmd.org
www.score.org