By Tori J.E. Riley
The Washington County Local Development Corporation will be conducting the Spring 2012 cycle of the Microenterprise Assistance Program beginning Monday, March 19.
The eight-week course is open to all Washington and Warren County prospective entrepreneurs as well as existing small businesses (with 10 or fewer employees).
This program provides the resources to build or re-structure an effective business plan; Advertising, budgeting and bookkeeping, legal issues, insurance requirements, taxes, permits, and financing are a few of the topics covered.
Each Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. offers an informational component of building and utilizing an effective business plan. This course is designed to provide candidates with in-depth coverage of the business planning and operational process.
SCORE kicks the course off by providing an overview of building a business plan and how to use that information to succeed, grow and thrive. Each week an area professional will cover a business related topic in their respective field to outline best practices.
Professional presentations for this course include:
• Gail Hamel, Hamel Resources, LLC;
• Matt Fuller, Fitzgerald, Morris, Baker, Firth Law Firm;
• Dick Look, Northern Insuring;
• Carl Cedrone, Edward Jones;
• Mike Laney, Gore and Laney CPA’s;
• George Normandin, Normandin Marketing;
There will also be regional business leaders in panel and round table discussion sessions with class participants.
Whether you’re looking to open a new business or want to expand your existing small business, this comprehensive and informative class is for you! The fee is $125 for each participant. In addition to learning valuable start-up and expansion information, completing this course qualifies candidates to apply for funding a start up business in Washington or Warren County. Additional loan programs are available for existing businesses. Visit wcldc.org or edcwc.org for details and loan programs available. Contact the Washington County LDC office at 518-746-2290 or email us at info@wcldc.org for more information.
Tori J.E. Riley is the Executive Director of the Washington County Local Development Corporation.