The Small Business Administration seeks 20 entrepreneurs throughout West Virginia to participate in a free executive-level business course starting in April.
SBA’s Emerging Leaders program is a free executive-level business training program for established business owners poised for growth. Over the course of seven months at theUniversity of Charleston’s Innovation Center, each participating entrepreneur will learn immediate ways to improve their business and create a three-year strategic growth plan to build a sustainable business of size and scale.
The program is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. To be considered, businesses must be for-profit enterprises, been in business for at least three years, have full-time employees, and have annual revenues between $250,000 and $10 million.
There are no restrictions on the type of businesses that can participate. Some examples of participating businesses include manufacturers, retail stores, wholesalers, contractors, professional services and food services.
A few notable West Virginia entrepreneurs who have completed the course include Roya Mayer, A3L Federal Works; Jeremy Harris, IT Mindshare; and Michael Mills, Mills Group.
“This program made me look at my business from many perspectives and question the why and how of some of the essential business activities such as employee hiring and reviews,” stated Mills. “
Business owners interested in the program should fill out the online application at www.sba.gov/emergingleaders by March 1. Interise, a non-profit organization specializing in entrepreneurial education, oversees the Emerging Leaders program nationwide. The SBA will review applications and select class participants.
For more information, visit www.sba.gov/emergingleaders, email melissa.loder@sba.gov or call
304-623-7448.
