BEDC ENROLLING CLIENTS FOR NEXT LAUNCH CLASS

BROOKLYN, NY—August 8, 2005—Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is now enrolling students for its award-winning LAUNCH Entrepreneur Training Program, which is designed exclusively to help individuals who have a mental health diagnosis start their own businesses.

Entrepreneur classes will be held weekly beginning in mid-September and will continue for three months at BEDC’s offices in downtown Brooklyn. The program is free to qualified clients from all five boroughs of New York City.

Bill Sweeney will serve as the primary instructor for the Fall LAUNCH course. Mr. Sweeney began his consulting business after serving for 12 years as president of Bio Systems, a healthcare safety services and products company, which he sold in January 2003. He joined Bio Systems as a vice president of sales in 1987, and prior to that spent 10 years in sales at Procter and Gamble, Shiley, and Sage Products. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York, Geneseo.

Registration is required. For more information and to apply to the LAUNCH program, please call Marjorie Schulman at 718-522-4600, ext. 22 to make an appointment.

The LAUNCH (Lead, Act, Undertake, Navigate, Change, and Heal) Program is funded by a grant from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Program offers classes to help clients successfully conceptualize and prepare a professional business plan, obtain permits and licenses, and operate a business, which could range from a modest, home-based business to a more sophisticated enterprise. Additional one to one coaching also is available. LAUNCH clients will learn to develop and sell their ideas, manage business finances, develop computer skills, and understand and comply with government requirements.

Since the LAUNCH Program began offering classes in 2003, nearly 200 clients have participated or are currently participating in the program. A number of clients have started businesses including landscape services, custom-made bags and accessories, fragrances, handmade jewelry, tutoring services, carpentry, retail, video production, marketing consulting, and many others. In addition, several clients have submitted business plans to the Brooklyn Business Library’s PowerUp Business Plan Competition.

In 2004, BEDC’s LAUNCH program was honored with the 2003 Excellence Award from the Abilities Fund, a national organization promoting entrepreneurship for people with disabilities, in recognition of the program’s outstanding effort in outreach and service to the disability community.

BEDC, a private, nonprofit organization, was established in 1979 to stimulate Brooklyn's economy and create job opportunities for the borough and its residents. BEDC has evolved into a multi-service, business-consulting agency, serving more than 1,000 clients annually and offering comprehensive economic development services. More information is available at www.bedc.org.