02/03/2006
Take 15 Weeks to Learn How to Grow Your Business

Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is now registering for its spring Entrepreneur Assistance Program, which begins February 7. The 15-week training curriculum is designed to provide current and future business owners with the skills and knowledge that are critical to produce an effective business plan and operate a successful business.

The cost of the course is $235 and it will be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. every Tuesday at BEDC’s office, 175 Remsen Street, Suite 350, downtown Brooklyn.

For those interested and wishing to learn more about the program or register in person, an informational session will be held at BEDC at 6:30 p.m., January 30.

More than 800 individuals have graduated from the Entrepreneur Training Program since BEDC began offering it 13 years ago and many have gone on to write effective business plans and start successful businesses.

Several graduates of the program submitted business plans for the Brooklyn Public Library Business Library’s 2004-2005 Annual PowerUP! Business Plan Competition. Out of the 67 business plans, Sydney Wayman, who will serve as one of the instructors for the EAP class, was named the first place winner, and three other graduates from the program won Merit Awards or Honorable Mentions.

Other program graduates include Loren Michelle and Gregg Stegeman, co-owners of Naturally Delicious, a catering business in Brooklyn; the former editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine, Monique Greenwood, who is CEO of Akwaaba Enterprises, Inc., which operates inns in Bedford Stuyvesant, Cape May, NJ, and Washington, DC, and owns restaurants and real estate in Bedford Stuyvesant; Paul North, owner of Your Office U.S.A., an office suite franchise in Brooklyn; Caylin Sanders, founder and president of EscapeMaker.com, an Internet travel company; Ann McCormack, who started a nonprofit organization called the East River Theatre Company; Joe Alameda, who with his family owns Perfect Corner Custom Picture Framing, located on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, and Allison DeSalvo, who runs World of Song Productions.

The intensive, hands-on course accommodates the beginning entrepreneur as well as experienced business people who wish to refine their skills.

The program topics will include:
� Developing your business plan;
� The marketing plan: defining your market;
� Organizational structure;
� Accounting, bookkeeping, and taxes;
� Understanding financial statements;
� Personal financial statements and credit review;
� Business certifications;
� Site selection and real estate issues;
� Insurance issues, and,
� Financing options for small businesses.

S. Edward Rutland, executive vice president of Matlock Advertising and Public Relations and president of Jupiter Marketing, a training firm, has served as the program’s primary instructor for more than five years and will be the instructor for several classes this spring. Industry professionals with an expertise in scheduled topics will be guest speakers.

To register, call BEDC at 718-522-4600 extension 17.