This begins a series of business columns I will have the privilege of writing for Inside Tucson Business. The overall subject is small business, specifically the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA). You guessed it, ASBA is the best kept business secret in Tucson.

ASBA was established in 1973 by five Phoenix businessmen wanting to do business together, create a group for health insurance and for the exchange of best practices.

The association today is 3,000 member companies strong with 525 or so of those aligned with the Southern Arizona office in Tucson. (We’re located at 4811 E. Grant Road, Suite 261, in the Crossroads Festival center.)

Statewide our 3,000 member companies represent about 200,000 employees, making us one of the largest business associations in Arizona.

In its 35 years, ASBA has stayed true to the original concept of providing benefits and resources, business education and networking and idea exchange to its members.

ASBA is a private nonprofit corporation (501c6) run by a board of directors whose policies are executed by staff led by the chief executive officer.

Administrative headquarters are in Phoenix. In 2000, the ASBA board of directors authorized establishment of a Tucson office, geographically responsible for Southern Arizona. Casa Grande is split between the central office in Phoenix and the Tucson office, depending on the needs of the member. In any event, membership in the Arizona Small Business Association is a virtual "on ramp" to other enterprises statewide.

ASBA provides connections to businesses and for businesses. We take every opportunity to introduce our members to each other and to match needs. With member companies of all sizes we keep our ears to the ground and when we perceive a "need" or even a "want" that can be filled by another member, we’ll make the call.

ASBA isn’t the ultimate leads machine or the only source of business connections. We see ourselves as one of many that are needed. We make the attempt to know what goods or services our members provide and that is a big differentiator between us and those other groups.

Besides these resources, ASBA provides tangible, expense-cutting programs that can increase bottom lines.

Health insurance is available through ASBA, the only association plan in the state. The plan is written by CIGNA, designed as a high-deductible, Health Savings Account-qualified program allowing medical expenses and certain other insurances to be paid with pre-tax dollars. I’ll have more on this in subsequent columns but suffice to say this is a guarantee issue health insurance group plan that can help every business retain employees at far less expense than most.

Another tangible is our association safety plan through SCF Arizona, the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation. All employers are required to carry workers compensation insurance to cover job related injuries that might befall employees. Participation in ASBA’s safety plan at no cost to the company drastically reduces net insurance premium costs. Members who participate often recover their $125 per-year per-company ASBA membership fee many times over.

Now on to business education. Faced with a need to differentiate its offerings, the ASBA board in 1999 made a commitment to education. As business owners themselves they knew too well the adage that most time is spent working "in an enterprise, not on it."

The commitment was made to provide members with workshops, seminars and other organized classes to help them thrive.

We have now developed ASBA Academy providing online, on-demand interactive workforce development. The academy is available to members via www.asba.com and deals with such soft skills as customer service, office etiquette and technical skills.

Amazingly affordable at $100 per person per year, ASBA Academy lists 325 courses all of which can be accessed via computer for the subscription year.