Small-business alliance formed

BYLINE: David Pittman, Amarillo Globe-News, Texas

Aug. 29--The Panhandle should receive nearly $300,000 during the next three years to create a resource hub for small-business owners and developers.

Leaders of entrepreneur resource organizations and U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry gathered Tuesday to announce the formation of the Entrepreneur Alliance, an organization where small-business owners can turn for help.

The alliance will pool the wealth of current resources for small businesses, such as local economic development corporations, colleges and universities, and economic incubators.

"The problem is people don't know how to access them," said P.J. Pronger, director of the West Texas A & M University Small Business Development Center. "The idea is to create this alliance to help all these entrepreneurs."

Economic development leaders at the announcement said the Entrepreneur Alliance will better help foster small-business growth in the Panhandle.

"Small business is still the economic engine that drives this economy," Thornberry, R-Clarendon, said. "Small-business folks in this area need to know that this is available."

The alliance will maximize vital resources to entrepreneurs, said Damaris Schlong, dean of Workforce and Economic Development at Amarillo College.

Buzz David, president of the Amarillo Economic Development Corp., believes it will help entrepreneurs.

"It's really designed for an entrepreneur to find out what direction to turn to for help," he said.

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