| Name | Linda |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Bullard |
| Home Address | 1015 E 11th Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403 United States |
| Organization Name | LSMB Business Solutions |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | I am the founder and operator of LSMB Business Solutions. I personally help business owners add business acumen to their toolbox by providing classes, workshops, coaching and consultation during the evening and weekends. LSMB Business Solutions, LLC is a privately owned business coaching and consulting firm owned by Linda Murray Bullard, M.B.A. Linda started the business consulting firm in 2013, after a 26-year career with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. In 2014, she added the business plan coaching component to the firm. Launch Chattanooga was her first business to business clients. Linda possesses over 30 years of business and organizational management experience, of which the past two years of the experience is with corporations, and the city of Chattanooga. During her years at BlueCross, she served as a Provider Research Manager for local providers in the state of Tennessee, as well as the Chattanooga community. Her service within the healthcare community awakened her awareness and exposure to gap in business knowledge for some small business supporters and small businesses seeking to partner with corporations and in government. She found there was a need to understand the detailed management of small businesses including finances, budgets, marketing plans and audits; the things that prevent small businesses from progressing and providing a better quality of life for the citizens they serve. Linda Murray Bullard, along with her team of business experts, teach small business owners how to create processes and procedures, understand and prepare financial statement and financial plans, which includes budgets, audits, procurement, payroll, human resources, reconcile bank statement, and other financial planning functions. |
| Organization Address | 1015 E 11th Street Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403 United States |
| Website | https://GetTheBusiness.org |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 4238383117 |
| Alternate Phone Number | 4237520673 |
| Email Address | info@LSMBBusinessSolutions.com |
| Alternate Email Address | lsmbbusiness@gmail.com |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | After being contracted to work for agencies like BrightBridge Women’s Business Center and Launch Chattanooga from November 2014 until January 2020, and working full time as a business consultant since October 2019, LSMB Business Solutions, LLC is proposing to become a resource for underserved and minority small business owners who would like to up level their business acumen and quality of services, including creating solid infrastructures, marketing plans, and understanding monthly business reports but do not have access to support during evenings and weekends. The goal is to assist with helping minority and underserved businesses with structuring better, understanding and preparing financial information, and being ready to sustain their businesses for the long term by understanding budgets, annual reports, and future audits. We understand that the City of Chattanooga has several other organizations supporting various entrepreneurial tasks. This proposal is not a replacement for all the City’s contracted entrepreneurial services, but an enhancement to those services. The rate proposed covers the specific services performed. However, LSMB Business Solutions, LLC is capable and willing to assist with fulfilling the 2022 goal of providing additional minority entrepreneur support services which includes assisting business owners in preparing for and identifying funding sources so they can fully function and perform as credible business operations. We will also advise the Mayor and Council monthly of the progression as we work to improve the small businesses’ financial position, helping them to make sound financial decisions and gain the ability to become viable and attractive candidates as governmental and corporate clients with transparency to the citizens and other agencies. We want to help barely surviving businesses to provide a better quality of life for the entire community. • Business training services using the Kauffman Foundation’s evidence-based Fast Trac® 90-day training program • Assisting entrepreneurs in seven key areas: structure, systems, marketing, sales, distribution, and customer service, as well as any other specific areas needed • Assisting entrepreneurs with financial management including bookkeeping to record receipts to be reconciled • Assisting with establishing operational systems to support the accounts receivables, accounts payables, and entries that affect the bank statements and reconciliation process • Providing written monthly reports to the Mayor and City Council • Attending council meetings as needed Proposed cost of all services rendered = $50,004 ($4,167 per month for a 12-month period), with renewable options available based on performance. After the first year, continued business consulting services will be paid for by the business owners based on a sliding fee schedule designed according to income. |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is designed to facilitate the United States' recovery from the devastating economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. By helping small businesses learn how to make a pivot, helping those who have skills learn how to monetize them to provide revenue for their families and by becoming a resource for struggling businesses, we are helping to build the economical value of those living in underserved and struggling communities. |
| Where would your project take place? | We have acquired space at 3529 Brainerd Road, Ste 1 to provide these services. |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 50004 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | No |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | |
| If funded, when would your project start? | March 7, 2022 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | We have three 12-week intervals to provide in a 12-month period |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | Number Of Business Enrolled by Industry Revenue Generated Prior To Enrollment Percentage of Revenue Generated Comparison Number of Businesses Successfully Complete Program Number of Businesses Consulted/In Class per month Number of New Businesses Started After Program |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | Monthly reporting is available. Independent auditing of program is achievable with prior notice. |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | Chattanooga businesses and residents will become productive and contributors to the city's overall economy. Struggling businesses will learn to formulate better. |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | We plan to host different events targeting businesses January 1 at 12:00 p.m. we are hosting a free annual planning session for business owners February 2022, working with various tradesmen, we are planning to host a trade expo to introduce various trades to the community March 2022, we plan to host outdoor sales events that are safe, organized and supportive of the community in the Brainerd area. |
| Name | Stan Brown |
| Contact Information | 423-320-7676 |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | Our objective is to offer business support services during evenings and weekends in order to meet the varied schedules of those who are entrepreneurs, but also full time employees. Statistics show new entrepreneurs (those within the first 5 years of their businesses life cycles) may work at least part time for someone else while they form their businesses. Currently, there are no agencies providing full service support for business owners after 5:00 p.m. |