By Rod Bacon<\/p>\n
Those with an entrepreneurial spirit always want to go to the next level, which usually means starting a business or improving an existing one.<\/p>\n
Through the Entrepreneur Boot Camp, offered through the Capital Region Chamber, these goals can be attained.<\/p>\n
The chamber is one of 26 regional, non-profit economic development organizations designated as Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EACs) that are funded by Empire State Development.<\/p>\n
According to Laura Mann, vice president of business resources and the program\u2019s administrator, the chamber has served as the Capital Region\u2019s EAC for over 25 years. She noted that the program was created under Gov. Mario Cuomo, initially as the Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (EAP), in 1987. The chamber received funding intermittently from 1995-1999, but since then has been supported every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have consistently been awarded funding by NYS ESD for this program, and have consistently been recognized and awarded by NYS as one of their top-performing EAC centers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Boot Camp is a 60-hour course held over 10-12-weeks with classes that meet twice a week at the chamber offices in Albany. Each session features business experts addressing topics critical to the growth of successful enterprises including accounting, legal, market research, real estate, taxes, insurance, payroll, cash flow, marketing, and social media, among others.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span>Participants develop a business plan, and toward the end of the course present the plan to a panel of judges. The winners of the business plan competition receive a $3,000 cash grant from Sunmark Federal Credit Union, a $1,500 cash grant from Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, a one-year chamber membership, office equipment from Repeat Business Systems, an education package from Schenectady County Community College and two computer training courses from MicroKnowledge. Schenectady County Community College and the Capital Region\u202fChamber have a unique agreement in place that allows students enrolled in the Business Administration A.A.S. program or the Entrepreneurship Certificate to take the chamber\u2019s Entrepreneur\u202fBoot\u202fCamp\u202ffor college credit.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an intensive course that provides a great deal of information, expertise and support to entrepreneurs with their business planning and business start-up,\u201d Mann said.\u202f\u201cIt is for new and existing businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and remains open until all seats are full. A maximum of 25 attendees are accepted for each session. Registration for the next class, which runs from September-November, is currently open. All interested parties are welcome to apply; one does not have to be a chamber member to participate. The cost is $550 per person.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not have dedicated funds for financial assistance but we do try to work with entrepreneurs that have a demonstrated financial need,\u201d said Mann.<\/p>\n There is no formal vetting process but Mann holds an in-depth meeting with potential participants before each session starts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe course is rigorous and this initial meeting helps both myself and the entrepreneur to better understand where they are in their business planning process so that they can make the most of the class,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n There are 40-50 local business people providing expertise and support for each class. These include attorneys, CPAs, insurance, finance, banking, and marketing professionals, as well as those who discuss presentation, communication, organizational development, and sales skills.<\/p>\n There are also representatives from community entrepreneur resource partners such as the Small Business Development Center, SCORE, Community Loan Fund, Tech Valley Center of Gravity, and the STEAM Garden who provide support, mentorship and expertise to the classes.<\/p>\n For further information about this program go to capitalregionchamber.com, click on Business Resources, go to Education and Training, then to Entrepreneur Boot Camp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Rod Bacon Those with an entrepreneurial spirit always want to go to the next level, which usually means starting a business or improving an existing one. Through the Entrepreneur Boot Camp, offered through the Capital Region Chamber, these goals can be attained. The chamber is one of 26 regional, non-profit economic development organizations designated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\n