CAZENOVIA – Recently, Melissa L. Zomro Davis of the Onondaga Small Business Development Center (SBDC) worked two days a week on Caz CoWorks to provide free assistance to small business owners in Madison County.

The Onondaga SBDC is a CNY-based organization that provides confidential, no-cost business advice to start-ups and existing businesses in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego and Seneca counties.

In her role as NYSBDC Certified Advanced Business Advisor, Zomro Davis provides assistance in a variety of areas including business plan development, financial projections, organizational structures, exporting, cost analysis, marketing plans. , market research, financial management, financial strategies, training programs, business expansion / sale and research through the SBDC research network. A full list of SBDC services is available at onondagasbdc.org.

Caz CoWorks is a membership-based coworking space located on the second floor at 87 Albany St. in downtown Cazenovia.

Launched in January 2018 by the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA) in consultation with Syracuse CoWorks, Caz CoWorks provides a well-equipped, flexible and affordable remote workspace for professionals in Cazenovia, Manlius, Chittenango, Morrisville and surrounding areas. .

“Several years ago, Cazenovia College provided space for both the CACDA and the Onondaga SBDC at 1 Liberty Street,” said Lauren Lines, Executive Director of CACDA. “A great result of sharing this space has been that Melissa and I have had the opportunity to discuss overlapping priorities. Most recently, Melissa has dedicated two days a week working at Caz CoWorks. This location is convenient for meeting clients and also provides an additional service to Caz CoWorks members.

Zomro Davis, who has been meeting clients in Cazenovia for eight years, started using the CoWorks space last summer.

So far, she has worked with companies across a variety of industries including food, restaurant, retail, manufacturing, consulting, agriculture, engineering, and construction. She recently worked with H. Gray Supply Co., a modern general store and outfitter at 53 Albany St.

“There is an article I just did on them that appeared in the Business Journal,” Zomro Davis said.

According to SBDC, Cazenovia’s satellite location has had an economic impact of $ 6,996,270.00 and created / saved 117 jobs since its inception in 2015.

Herself a resident of Cazenovia, Zomro Davis said she is committed to the community and understands the needs of its small businesses.

“I am one of them,” she said. “When I started here eight years ago we weren’t very present, but I attended events, hosted presentations and started advertising our services in Madison County. I am confident that I am providing the best possible service in this area. Our center is based in Onondaga, but we cover six counties.

The small business adviser added that the days she works from Cazenovia (Mondays and Thursdays) are usually stacked with back-to-back appointments.

“Being on Main Street is a huge bonus for our customers, [both in terms of] find us and be able to come to the office easily, ”she said. “I hope to continue raising awareness and being in the office additional days during the week. With the growth and growth potential of entrepreneurship being so promising, I can see the need to be here full time as soon as possible. “

To sign up for a date with Zomro Davis or to read stories from SBDC clients in Madison County, visit onondagasbdc.org/caz-coworks.html.

For more information on Caz CoWorks, contact Lines at [email protected] or 315-655-7651.