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Ablan’s Business Center in Gouverneur receives financing from county microenterprise program

Posted 4/23/11

GOUVERNEUR -- Ablan’s Business Center, 47 East Main St., has been awarded a $15,750 grant from the St. Lawrence County Local Development Corporation’s Microenterprise Grant Program for inventory …

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Ablan’s Business Center in Gouverneur receives financing from county microenterprise program

Posted

GOUVERNEUR -- Ablan’s Business Center, 47 East Main St., has been awarded a $15,750 grant from the St. Lawrence County Local Development Corporation’s Microenterprise Grant Program for inventory and working capital.

Julie Ablan-Woodrow started a small computer repair service from her home 11 years ago after becoming disabled in a car accident. Since then she has grown Julie’s Computers into a full service business center on Main Street in Gouverneur now operating under the name of Ablan’s Business Center, Inc.

Products and services include AT&T cellular service, phones and accessories, computer sales, products, and repair, office supplies, copying, faxing, laminating, book binding, and they are also a UPS Ship Center.

The business is especially focused on providing network systems and services to small and medium sized businesses. Ablan-Woodrow prides herself on customer service and offers training and support for all of her products.

As with many small businesses, the downturn in the economy hit her business hard. She struggled to keep the shelves stocked with essential products her customers have come to rely on her for. With help from Pathstone Enterprises and the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton, she created a new direction and plan for her company. Financial assistance from the Gouverneur Area Development Corporation and the St. Lawrence County Local Development Corporation have enabled her to move forward with that plan and create a new life for the company as Ablan’s Business Center.

“Since I received my grant I have been able to fully stock my store from laptops, new computers, computer parts, cables, keyboards, mice, office supplies, and ink. No longer do people come into our store and have to wait for their items unless it’s a special order,” says Ablan-Woodrow. “We got some new display racks and now have a whole section of pink supplies with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to breast cancer. A bookbinding machine was added to our copy center and we now offer that service. I was also able to hire another employee. I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

St. Lawrence County Local Development Corporation CEO Raymond Fountain states, “The Microenterprise Grant Program was designed to help businesses like Ablan’s Business Center that provide specialized products and services to their communities. Our support will help a long-standing downtown business in Gouverneur remain viable, and we are pleased to be able to provide assistance.”

For further information call Ablan’s Business Center at 287-4337, or “like” them on Facebook. They will have website up soon.