Fall River Chamber offers free business counseling

FALL RIVER – The Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. today announced it has received $50,000 from the Mass. Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship to provide technical assistance to local startups and small businesses.
The money has been used to hire John Silva – an experienced businessman and counselor who is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish – to serve as a small business adviser, according to Peter Kortright, the Chamber’s president and CEO.
“We do not intend to compete with existing advisors and member businesses,” the Fall River Chamber said in a statement today. “Rather, we believe that there are small businesses with more potential for growth that have not properly organized and planned for that growth. We aim to guide them in reaching the next level and help them make connections with other partners who can bring them further.”
Local entrepreneurs and businesses with 20 or fewer employees are invited to apply for free assistance.
The program “hopes to reach anyone interested in starting a business or any existing business that could use a little guidance,” the Chamber said. “We want to work with businesses in a setting that is comfortable for them and promise to keep all information confidential and private.”
To learn more, or to apply for free small-business counseling, contact John Silva at (508) 676-8222, ext. 20, or jsilva@fallriverchamber.com. Additional information about the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. and its programs is available at www.fallriverchamber.com.