Page 4 • Wednesday , July 14 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Action Travel Center selected for NPP mentor program
NPP , from Page 1 will receive up to five months of free one-on-one consulting with business mentors . The small businesses will also potentially be able to receive business innovation grants of up to $ 1,000 to implement the recommendations they receive from their business mentors ,” the release stated .
Among the eight businesses selected for the project was Action Travel Center in Hammonton .
“ It ’ s an honor . It ’ s wonderful ,” Action Travel Center ’ s Sharon Magee told The Gazette .
Jef Buehler , the state ’ s NPP leader / administrator , explained the process for acceptance into the pilot project .
“ Businesses were selected by the local NPP program based on their level of commitment to working with a SCORE mentor , the likelihood of implementing the recommendations received and their ability to manage a Business Innovation Grant from their NPP local program , funded by DCA ’ s NPP ,” Buehler said . Buehler also noted satisfaction at seeing a business like Action Travel Center being accepted into the project .
“ Action Travel was a recipient of our NPP-CRF [ Coronavirus Relief Funding ] small business grants through NPP Hammonton , managed by MainStreet Hammonton , so I am glad to see this further reinvestment into the success of the business ,” Buehler said . According to the release , the NPP is collaborating with New Jersey chapters of SCORE — Service Corps of Retired Executives — to “ connect the eight small businesses participating in the pilot initiative with volunteer business mentors who can assist them with their specific business needs and goals .”
“ SCORE NJ is an organization of volunteer mentors who are experienced in entrepreneurship and related fields such as startup , marketing and finance . Its mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education ,” the release said .
Magee said that she was excited to be a part of the project .
“ I ’ m looking to get some experience from somebody who ’ s run a business , if they ’ re up on the digital changes that are happening , maybe marketing , e-commerce , those types of things ... I know everybody considers us , as a storefront , a dying industry , but I ’ ll be darned if I don ’ t keep up with the times ,” Magee said .
Specifically , Magee said , she was hopeful that her mentor would be able to help with “ client invoicing , marketing , those types of things .”
“ It would be perfect if I can find a mentor who was in the travel industry that could really guide me with the things of the pasts meeting with the things of the future ...
I know there ’ s other ways we can do it , and I know some of the mentors are retirees , so if they can give me some feedback , basically , like business management , back office administration , that type of thing is really what I can use help on ,” Magee said . Action Travel Center and the other seven businesses selected for the pilot project will , according to the release , receive consulting “ in such areas as marketing , business technologies , graphic design , branding , bookkeeping , e- commerce , store renovation , online presence , employee retention , income diversification , foot traffic and employment for at-risk youth .”
“ SCORE NJ is honored to partner with DCA to bring our business expertise to small businesses in NPP districts . Through our hands-on mentoring , our goal is to help these businesses grow and thrive ,” said Gene Wolf , SCORE NJ District Director .
In the release , Lt . Governor Sheila Oliver — who serves as DCA Commissioner — said that
See ACTION , Page 14