Charting a Course to Prosperity Offering Small Business Ownership Series

BATAVIA, NY (04/16/2015)(readMedia)-- Calling all aspiring entrepreneurs. Here's your chance to find out if you have what it takes to achieve small business success. The BEST Center at Genesee Community College is partnering with the City of Batavia and the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) to offer a three part "Owning Your Own Business" program designed to inspire creativity, fine-tune skills, and chart a true course to prosperity. Those interested will be able to explore, experience, and connect with resources that can help turn a dream into a reality.

The program, "Get Underway: Small Business Ownership Series," begins with a series of one-hour workshops where participants will explore business opportunities, assessing their personal readiness to own and operate a new business. Each session will run from 12 noon -1:00 p.m. in the second floor community room at Batavia City Hall. The following four sessions are planned and participants are encouraged to attend each one:

• April 22, 2015 Do I have what it takes to own a small business?

• April 29, 2015 Can I earn a living through my passion? Maybe I should buy a business?

• May 6, 2015 Why didn't I think of THAT business?

• May 13, 2015 The Sniff Test, assessing your business idea!

The sessions are $5 each for those who pre-register online at http://www.genesee.edu/best/, or $10 each at the door.

The second part of the program goes beyond the basics to help participants fully develop a business concept and transition into becoming a business manager. These five weekly Wednesday evening sessions are mandatory if participants want to access grant resources available through the City of Batavia Microenterprise Grant Program. The sessions run from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in Room T121 of the Conable Technology Building on GCC's Batavia campus. They include:

• May 27, 2015 Trials, tribulations & skills of a successful business leader

• June 3, 2015 Marketing strategies to increase sales

• June 10, 2015 Using financial information to guide my business

• June 17, 2015 Learning to "manage" a business

• June 24, 2015 Business plan presentation and networking

The five-week course costs $125 and students will receive a certificate upon successful completion. Registration for this course is also available online at http://www.genesee.edu/best/.

Once participants complete the course, the BDC will help them navigate the many options available to help fund their business start-up or expansion. Loan and grant programs are available from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce and the Genesee Economic Development Center. The City of Batavia offers three different small business financing programs which include up to $30,000 low interest loan from the BDC, up to $20,000 Microenterprise Loan/Grant, and up to $15,000 Get Underway Grant. "We'll meet individually with them to discuss the best options that match their qualifications and needs," said Julie Pacatte, Economic Development Coordinator.

The Small Business Ownership series is funded in part by the New York State Office of Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.