Shasta Cascade SBDC outlines no-cost business advising and farm-focused programs for Trinity County

Quentin Gaddy, director of the Shasta Cascade Small Business Development Center, told the Trinity County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 3 that the SBDC network operates nationwide and offers confidential, no-cost one-on-one business advising and trainings funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the California Office of Business and Economic Development. The center serves Trinity along with Shasta and Siskiyou counties and visits Weaverville monthly to host trainings and advising sessions.

Gaddy said the SBDC contracts with subject-matter advisers who can help small businesses with accounting and QuickBooks reconciliation, business entity choice and tax preparation questions, cybersecurity and search-engine optimization, loan packaging and access to capital. "As long as they're continually making progress, we can work with them in just about every avenue that they need assistance with," he told the board.

Leah, who leads the SBDC's agriculture program branded Siskiyou FarmCo, described services targeted at farms and food entrepreneurs: succession planning, livestock and meat-processing trainings, online e-courses, and assistance placing direct-to-consumer products. She said the program helps farmers sell to wholesale buyers and institutions, builds farmer-market capacity, and offers workshops in coordination with partners such as UC Cooperative Extension and local resource conservation districts.

Supervisors asked how extensive SBDC support for cannabis-related businesses can be given federal restrictions. Gaddy said the SBDC program cannot work directly with cannabis businesses because cannabis remains illegal under federal law, but staff will refer cannabis entrepreneurs to state resources (for example, contacts at the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development) that can provide business support.

The presentation emphasized outreach: mailings, regular trainings in Weaverville, and collaboration with local banks, chambers and disaster-response groups. Gaddy and colleagues asked the board to help spread the word that the SBDC's services are taxpayer-funded and free for qualifying small businesses.

Quentin Gaddy, Director, Shasta Cascade Small Business Development Center (first reference used full name and role). Leah, Agriculture Program Lead (first reference used single name as given in presentation), and Alex Schramfer (staff listed) participated in the presentation and answered board questions. The SBDC says it will continue to host trainings in Weaverville and to coordinate with county departments and local partners.