Small Business Clinic Aids Those Who Lost Funds In OC's Oil Spill

NEWPORT BEACH, CA —The recent Orange County oil spill hurt seaside and ocean-related businesses up and down the Orange County coastline. On Tuesday, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris planned the Newport Beach Small Business Clinic from 5 to 8 p.m.

Sessions were broken into Marketing, Operations and Financial assistance buckets, according to the business clinic admission form.

The program, offered in collaboration with the City of Newport Beach and the CSUF SBDC, was geared toward "mom and pop shops," those without corporate backing hurting from the recent oil spill closures.

The Small Business Clinic included business assistance and support to the small business owners who were affected by the recent oil spill, Petrie-Norris's office said.

On Tuesday, Newport Beach business owners would have the opportunity to meet with an SBDC consultant at no cost for a 30-minute one-on-one session from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and some were still available as of this report.

The SBDC answered each business owner's immediate needs pertaining to marketing, operations, or finances including all federal, state and local assistance programs, according to the program's directives.

Appointments were made on a first come first serve basis, and were limited. It is not yet known if another event will be held.

The event, from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, was scheduled at Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive.