EDC expands SBEI
EDC expands small business & entrepreneurship programming Tweet
COLUMBIA CITY (August 8, 2011) - The Whitley County EDC today announced the expansion of the EDC’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Initiative (SBEI) to include the SBEI GreenLight, a program focused on rapid response business coaching and mentoring for local entrepreneurs.
SBEI provides resources for pre-startup, startup and growing businesses in Whitley County by combining the Kauffman Institute’s FastTrac New Ventures business planning course with personal business coaching provided by seasoned and experienced business owners. SBEI is led by program manager and aerospace veteran Bruce Stach.
SBEI GreenLight will provide aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners the time to evaluate the viability of a business idea in a safe and interactive environment. Clients entering the Greenlight program will complete a three phase process over a series of meetings with EDC business consultants. The final phase will conclude with a benchmark assessment to determine next steps and resource partners.
SBEI GreenLight is led by Small Business Development Center (SBDC) business advisor Scot Goskowicz and SBEI entrepreneur-in-residence Bill Brown. "SBEI GreenLight focuses on helping small business owners and entrepreneurs in their initial due diligence to establish a pathway toward success in Whitley County" said Goskowicz, "Our knowledgeable team understands that entrepreneurs will come to our program with very different needs and we will identify resources and tools to address their concerns.”
SBEI GreenLight hands-on business development program that will allow clients the confidence to launch their idea, continue evaluating the business idea or refocus to a different business idea. Determining feasibility of the idea, conducting a SWOT analysis and developing a formal strategy are just a few activities clients of the SBEI GreenLight program may undertake.
Funding for SBEI GreenLight is made possible by the EDC and the Whitley County Community Foundation, which recently awarded $10,000 to support the 12-month startup of the program.
“Sustaining and evolving the EDC’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Initiative is critical to our local economic development efforts, said EDC president Alan Tio, “It has been demonstrated that the majority of new job creation actually comes from small business with fewer than 20 employees. We are committed to supporting entrepreneurs at any stage of their business development.”
For more information on the EDC’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Initiative and SBEI GreenLight please contact SBEI program manager Bruce Stach (bstach@whitleyedc.com; 260-244-5506)
About Whitley County EDC
The Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is the lead economic development agency in Whitley County, Indiana. The EDC works closely with local, regional, and state partners to support our industry clients' growth and success. Our mission is to implement a unified economic development effort and to expand employment and business opportunities for the benefit of the people of Whitley County by developing and maintaining cooperation of all individuals, groups, and organizations within the county. The Whitley County EDC was established in 1992 and represents Whitley County, Columbia City, and the Towns of Churubusco, Larwill, and South Whitley. For more information about the EDC, visit www.whitleyedc.com.
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Media Contacts:
Alan Tio (Whitley County EDC) – 260.244.5506 or atio@whitleyedc.com
Bruce Stach (Whitley County EDC) – 260.244-5506 or bstach@whitleyedc.com