MEDC-IEDC Entrepreneurial and Small Business Course

Sheri Alsup’s Mansfield Community Betterment connections brought this announcement to local businesses and start-ups.

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The Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) has arranged for the International Economic Council (IEDC) to bring its Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Strategies course to Blue Springs Missouri April 30th - May 1, 2009. MEDC worked with IEDC to bring the course to Missouri with the hope that economic and community developers in Missouri could take advantage of a more convenient and comparatively reasonable cost location.

Small businesses stimulate job creation, develop crucial innovations in both products and services, and promote the diversification of the economic base. Thus, it is crucial that communities and economic developers dedicate resources to developing and promoting new business startups and establish effective support systems. A community that meets the needs of its entrepreneurs increases its chances of job growth by small businesses, which translates into a more vibrant community. As large businesses downsize, a healthy business climate that supports smaller businesses will also help with the retention of skilled workers.

The course will identify the tools economic developers need to create a climate that caters to small businesses. In addition, the course will cover the characteristics of entrepreneurs and small business owners, the barriers they face, and how communities can promote their development.

This course will cover:

• Characteristics of entrepreneurs and small business owners
• Promoting small business development in your community
• Identifying and addressing the needs of entrepreneurs
• Providing technical assistance
• Growth potential for microenterprises
• Development of business incubators
• How to attract private investors and lenders
• Micro-lending programs, SBA programs, venture capital, and other innovative financing tools

There is a link to the MEDC web site (http://www.showme.org) that leads to the registration form. It is important for you to go to the MEDC web site so you can take advantage of the reduced attendance fee the IEDC offers to the host organization.

Jan Simon, Ex. Dir. Missouri Community Betterment