Over the past few years, Chautauqua Opportunities for Development,
Inc. (CODI) has emerged as an important provider of business
plan assistance and counseling to disadvantaged entrepreneurs
in Chautauqua County. CODI offers the area a small business training
course called "Small Business Essentials," which is
an 8-week course (total of 24 hours) that meets once a week for
three hours.
CODI seeks to provide the participants with the information needed
to operate their business. Many entrepreneurs are caught off
guard by the intricacies of running a business, but if they are
prepared, then their chances for success are higher.
The course covers all aspects of creating a business plan, in
addition to determining if being and entrepreneur is right for
the participant. By going through this step-by-step process,
the participants gain a better understanding of their industry,
market potential, competition, forms of businesses, permits,
sources of information, financial planning and the importance
of being pro-active. In addition, the class is interactive, has
real world applications specifically designed for micro enterprises
and ultimate goal is to have a completed business plan at the
end of the class.
In order to provide the best information to our students, we
use volunteer professionals from the community to give presentations
for specific classes. Current volunteer speakers include Paul
Butryn, Accountant; Jeffrey Passafaro, Attorney; Jane Russo,
M&T Bank Manager; and a Business Counselor from the Small Business
Development Center (SBDC). We encourage potential and existing business owners to take our class to help them sharpen their
skills.
Each session is able to accommodate most people and classes
are kept at a manageable size of 10 t0 12 students. In order
to make the sessions as accessible as possible, we attempt to
subsidize the cost of the classes by obtaining grants from various
agencies. |
The class is taught by the Director of Economic Development and offered twice
a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Classes are held in community
spaces that are comfortable and handicapped accessible alternating between
the north and south areas of the county.
CODI has scheduled the next "Small Business Essentials" course to be held:
Monday Evenings
March 7, 2.005 - April 25,2005
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location:
Chautauqua Opportunities for Development, Inc. (CODI)
Economic Development Center
402 Main Street Suite 2
2nd Floor Conference Room
Dunkirk, NY
This accessible and practical training and technical assistance gives low-income
microentrepreneurs in Chautauqua County the opportunity to own and operate
viable businesses, which will enrich their families, their communities and
the local economy. This is an important step as we work to development more
business activity and opportunities for lower income individuals in Chautauqua
County.
Space is limited so to ensure your seat, please register by calling the
CODI offices at 366-2334 ext 12 by noon on Monday, February 28, 2005. |
