Cortland County will now be a branch of the Syracuse Chapter of SCORE, according to Richard V. Hannis, Director, Upstate Districts, SCORE. "I think it is timely that a branch of SCORE be established in Cortland," said Hannis, "because of the need for small business counseling across Upstate New York. and especially since most new business growth will come from companies with employees of five or fewer. We are delighted to work with the Cortland County BDC and Chamber of Commerce to introduce this new SCORE branch, as we have done with other communities across Upstate New York."

Providing volunteer services to head up the new Cortland branch will be Richard Gysel, who recently moved to the Cortland area from Virginia. A native of Rochester, he worked for an electrical manufacturing company for more than 40 years, gaining experience in sales, manufacturing, engineering, human relations and finance. He originally became a member of SCORE in Florida before moving to Virginia where his SCORE involvement continued.

Gysel will meet with entrepreneurs seeking advice on starting or expanding a business each 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the BDC Conference, 37 Church Street in Cortland. Appointments are required for the individual one-hour session, and can be made by calling the BDC at 756-5005.

The Syracuse SCORE Chapter is one of 12 upstate SCORE operations. SCORE is a national network that works in cooperation with the Small Business Administration to provide free confidential advice about business planning. In addition to counseling, SCORE conducts workshops for new and existing small businesses. SCORE volunteers include retired and active business owners, executives and managers covering various skill specialties and industries.

"I feel that with Dick's background, experience and enthusiasm, we can begin counseling immediately and in a relatively short period of time recruit additional local SCORE members," said Art Hoblen, chairman of the Syrcacuse SCORE Chapter. "The presence of additional resident Cortland SCORE members would accelerate the services we could provide, such as educational workshops and seminars, and increase the volume of counseling to those residents wishing to start a business as well as the existing small business community."

SCORE will compliment the other partnerships that the BDC has established with the SBA, NYBDC and SBDC who offer monthly "Business Assistance Days" at the BDC's office. "The goal is one-shopping," according to BDC/IDA Chairman, Paul Slowey.

For more information:

• http://www.score.org