ACCORD’s Allegany Business Center is hard at work, helping local entrepreneurs to create new businesses and strengthening existing enterprises.  Bridgette Tojek came to the Business Center in December of 2007.  She is a Cornell graduate who has a love for the earth.  She majored in animal science and has had experience raising exotic chickens.  She was looking to parlay her education and interests into a green business selling designer flocks, herbs and organic vegetables to the local population. 

Bridgette graduated from the Business Center’s spring 2008 Business Training class.  She completed a business plan and entered it in the business plan contest associated with the class.  She also attended our Green Business workshops held at Alfred State College and entered the “Big Green Idea” business plan contest. 

“I have benefited from the Allegany Business Center’s networking opportunities - the diverse people I met and consequently befriended, made a huge difference…” she said,  “I was introduced to many concepts that were new, especially in the areas of accounting, technology and the like.”

Bridgette’s business, I-Tang-O, began selling eggs and organic herbs at local farmer’s markets last spring.  I-Tang-O also sells fertile eggs on eBay, shipping across the country. 
She specializes in chickens that lay naturally colored eggs in various shades of green, blue, pink, and brown. One of her goals is to establish “backyard flocks” of three to seven chickens in urban areas, that she promotes as “natural insect and pest control, an excellent source of composting material, a unique backyard companion that provides fresh healthy food for you and the family, and of course an almost consistent form of entertainment - they are just fun to watch.” Working with a business counselor, Bridgette has developed a website for her business, which can be found at: www.I-Tang-O.com.