Contact: Renee Ihlenfeldt
Alliance for Economic Success
231-723-4325
Or
Julie VanDyke
Mason County Growth Alliance
231-845-6646
For Immediate Release
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS IDEA AND MAKE IT A REALITY!
Manistee, Michigan – Are you thinking of starting your first business? Have you just recently started a business and wish you knew more about making it successful? Do you want to know how to take a business idea and develop a business plan?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then you won’t want to miss this entrepreneurial workshop: Are You Dreaming of Starting your own Business?, to be held on Tuesday March 4, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at West Shore Community College in their new Campus Center. Two follow-up workshops will be offered on Tuesday March 11 & March 18, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., also at West Shore Community College’s new Campus Center.
This training opportunity has been made possible through regional collaboration between the Manistee-based Alliance for Economic Success, the Mason County Growth Alliance, The Starting Block Incubator, West Shore Community College and MI-Small Business & Technology Development Center.
The workshops were developed and will be lead by Ron Steiner, former executive director of the Oceana Economic Development Corporation, current regional entrepreneurship educator for Michigan State University’s Extension Service and director of the Starting Block kitchen incubator in Hart, Michigan. “This series of workshops is designed for anyone just beginning to think of starting their first business, or anyone who has just recently started a business, without much entrepreneurial education”, said Ron. “With the right information and planning, our local entrepreneurs can take their business idea and make it a reality!”
Some of the topics that will be covered are:
* "So you want to be an entrepreneur" - the myths and realities
* Passion, Purpose, Plan and Persistence
* Organization of your venture - partners, type of business entity
* The Business Plan - what's a good one and who does it
* "Guerrilla" Marketing
* Don't be a "Lone Eagle" - develop your network
* Protecting your idea
* Keeping it "fun"
The workshops cost $25 for the introductory workshop on March 4, or $59 for all three workshops (March 4, 11, 18). Registration is required. To register or for more information, call Betsy Keson at 231-723-4325 or Julie VanDyke at 231-845-6646.