A new BusinessSource center may come soon to the Koreatown and Wilshire Center areas with the Los Angeles City Council to consider giving final approval to the center on Friday.

It will become the ninth such facility located in Los Angeles. Robert Sainz, assistant general manager for the city’s Community Development Department, said the center will be temporarily located at Council President Herb Wesson’s field office at 1819 S. Western Ave. If it is approved by the council, which Sainz said is very likely, the BusinessSource Center will open within 90 days. Another BusinessSource Center was previously approved for the Los Angeles City College campus and will likely open within 30 days, Sainz added.

“It is especially important for the Mid-Wilshire and Koretown areas, because of the large number of small businesses there. Small business is the major economic component in the city of Los Angeles,” Sainz said. “The plan is to have the center in the council office until we can find a permanent location.”

The city contracts with different service providers to operate the BusinessSource Centers, such as Managed Career Solutions, which will oversee the Hollywood and Wilshire/Koreatown centers. Small business owners can receive needs and marketing assessments, one-on-one consulting, business plan development and assistance in negotiating leases. Sainz said another major component is assisting business owners with applying for loans, as well as local, state and federal grants. Additionally, consultants can help business owners with human resources and tax requirements, and can assist with obtaining discounts from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Courses for business owners are also held at the centers, such as marketing, fiscal management, e-commerce, green solutions, accounting and more.

“We can also help them with obtaining permits from city departments,” Sainz said. “There is a lot of technical assistance available. Anything they need to get started.”

Wesson’s deputy, Ed Johnson, said the council president is eager to have the new BusinessSource center located within the 10th District.

“From Mr. Wesson’s standpoint, the more resources readily available to small business owners in the area, the better,” Johnson said. “It is an important commerce center.”

The existing BusinessSource Centers are located in the San Fernando Valley, and in East and South Los Angeles. For information, visit www.labusiness-source.org.