B3K, BC Launchpad team up on minority-focused business program
B3K Prosperity and the Bakersfield College Launchpad announced Friday the start of a pilot project intended to connect local minority small business owners with resources to help their enterprises grow.
A news release said the plan is to introduce local entrepreneurs to service providers ready to address specific challenges.
“As the pilot program progresses, work is underway to help more businesses enter the mainstream economy and develop a sustainable funding stream to expand the program and provide more of the coaching, mentoring and technical assistance minority small business owners need to succeed,” the release stated.
B3K, which stands for A Better Bakersfield and Boundless Kern, is a collaboration working to create good local jobs through economic development. BC Launchpad offers resources and workshops for entrepreneurs to start and grow their business.
Commercial real estate services provider Lee & Associates Central California has won freestanding status 17 months after opening as a satellite office.
The 22-person operation, let by Chad Brock and Michael Ming, represents a formal integration with the largest broker-owned commercial real estate firm in the country, according to a news release Friday.
The Central California operation has offices at 5401 Business Park South, Suite 122, in Bakersfield; 109 E. Victoria St. in Santa Barbara; 668 Marsh St., Suite 3, in San Luis Obispo; and 2990 Grand Ave., Suite D., in Los Olivos.
The Association of Petroleum Women recently donated $55,400 to Hoffman Hospice.
Money for the donation was raised at events such as Charity Bunco Night at Seven Oaks.
Membership to the 76-year-old association is open to women who work in or are retired from the oil industry, as well as women whose husbands have worked in the business.
McCullough Dental recently provided free services to two Bakersfield residents as part of the practice’s annual Community Care Day.
One of the “comprehensive smile restorations” involved replacing a baby tooth and filling a gap with dental implants, then finishing the job with porcelain veneers.
The other procedure consisted of rebuilding and reshaping the upper front two teeth of a patient whose suffered an accident 10 years ago. McCullough addressed tool discoloration with professional strength whitening gel, followed by its placement of new, digitally designed crowns.
The office reported having provided more than $50,000 in free dental care to people in need since it opened three years ago.