BERLIN– A proposed new small business program and an amended town ordinance will be discussed during the next Mayor and Council meeting on July 14.
Berlin will attempt to introduce the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, as well as amend town laws governing the use of food trucks.
The entrepreneurial initiative was inspired by “pop up” stores in Cambridge and Rehoboth.
“The Delaware Main Street program works with building owners to give three months free rent to a new business trying to establish themselves,” said Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day. “What we’re proposing is free office space in the Visitor’s Center for six months – utilities included – just trying to get an office business in town and trying to help someone start a new business.”
The town is working with the Small Business Development Center at Salisbury University.
Applicants will be required to submit a business plan, go through an SBDC consultation and sign a six-month lease and letter of agreement with the town. SBDC, Berlin Economic Development and Main Street Berlin will review all applications.
Along with rent and utilities, the program will provide free internet, customer parking, a small conference room and exposure and support from the town.
“The benefit that I see is kind of leveraging what Berlin has been doing, which is to have a good place that entrepreneurs have been coming and establishing a business,” said SBDC Director John Hickman. “This is just a way of attracting some entrepreneurs that may not be ready for a huge venture, but they can come in and get themselves established in the town so it lowers their risk. From Berlin’s perspective it allows them to continue to be a choice location for these new entrepreneurs looking for the place that they want to start and grow their business.”
Hickman believes the benefit of fostering a new, potentially long-term business in Berlin outweighs the cost the town would absorb in covering rent and utilities for six months.
“If you have someone who establishes their business there you’re likely to keep them,” he said. “That’s the goal of this – that you get someone established in the location. Hopefully they grow out of that location, go out and rent space and start having their business grow in town. Once your traffic is established in an area you can move within a certain boundary, but if you establish a business in Berlin the likelihood that they would move to somewhere like Salisbury – the business probably isn’t going to do that. So you’ve connected them to the area at a very low cost.”
Berlin will also move to amend Chapter 8, Article III , section 8-52 of the town code.
Specifically, item 9 prohibits anyone who intends to “peddle, solicit or distribute food items, unless exempted under §8-53, without the prior approval of the Mayor and Council.”
“We’ve been getting a lot of calls about food trucks wanting to come and we can’t do that,” Day said, adding that he did not want to disrupt business to local restaurants. Exceptions would be allowed for special events.
Berlin holds Mayor and Council at the Town Council Center on 10 William Street. For more information call 410-641-2770 or visit www.berlinmd.gov.
Berlin will attempt to introduce the Entrepreneurial Assistance Program, as well as amend town laws governing the use of food trucks.
The entrepreneurial initiative was inspired by “pop up” stores in Cambridge and Rehoboth.
“The Delaware Main Street program works with building owners to give three months free rent to a new business trying to establish themselves,” said Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day. “What we’re proposing is free office space in the Visitor’s Center for six months – utilities included – just trying to get an office business in town and trying to help someone start a new business.”
The town is working with the Small Business Development Center at Salisbury University.
Applicants will be required to submit a business plan, go through an SBDC consultation and sign a six-month lease and letter of agreement with the town. SBDC, Berlin Economic Development and Main Street Berlin will review all applications.
Along with rent and utilities, the program will provide free internet, customer parking, a small conference room and exposure and support from the town.
“The benefit that I see is kind of leveraging what Berlin has been doing, which is to have a good place that entrepreneurs have been coming and establishing a business,” said SBDC Director John Hickman. “This is just a way of attracting some entrepreneurs that may not be ready for a huge venture, but they can come in and get themselves established in the town so it lowers their risk. From Berlin’s perspective it allows them to continue to be a choice location for these new entrepreneurs looking for the place that they want to start and grow their business.”
Hickman believes the benefit of fostering a new, potentially long-term business in Berlin outweighs the cost the town would absorb in covering rent and utilities for six months.
“If you have someone who establishes their business there you’re likely to keep them,” he said. “That’s the goal of this – that you get someone established in the location. Hopefully they grow out of that location, go out and rent space and start having their business grow in town. Once your traffic is established in an area you can move within a certain boundary, but if you establish a business in Berlin the likelihood that they would move to somewhere like Salisbury – the business probably isn’t going to do that. So you’ve connected them to the area at a very low cost.”
Berlin will also move to amend Chapter 8, Article III , section 8-52 of the town code.
Specifically, item 9 prohibits anyone who intends to “peddle, solicit or distribute food items, unless exempted under §8-53, without the prior approval of the Mayor and Council.”
“We’ve been getting a lot of calls about food trucks wanting to come and we can’t do that,” Day said, adding that he did not want to disrupt business to local restaurants. Exceptions would be allowed for special events.
Berlin holds Mayor and Council at the Town Council Center on 10 William Street. For more information call 410-641-2770 or visit www.berlinmd.gov.