Renowned entrepreneur series coming to Metro East
EDWARDSVILLE – The Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is collaborating with WRS Solutions LLC to bring the Kauffman Foundation FastTrac Growth Venture series to the River Bend area.
The FastTrac series is a flexible program with a proven framework to help established companies and entrepreneurs realize the full potential of their businesses through sustainable growth and operational efficiency. This eight-part series will bring local resource partners together to help small businesses grow and expand operations.
Kauffman FastTrac was created by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest foundation in the world devoted to entrepreneurship.
“This is an opportunity business owners will not want to miss,” said SBDC Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May. “Chambers of Commerce, business-building and networking organizations are all encouraged to invite their members.”
The city of Alton, The Riverbend Growth Association, The Village of Godfrey, SCORE of Southwest Illinois, and Confluence Business Advisors and its subsidiary What’s Next Business Hub are all sponsors of this inaugural event. It will take place in Godfrey and provide local business resources to support small-business owners.
The series runs from 9 a.m.-noon for eight consecutive Fridays beginning Jan.12, 2018. The first four sessions (Jan. 12, 19, 26 and Feb. 2) will be at the Reliance Bank, 2810 Godfrey Road. The last four sessions (Feb. 9, 16, 23 and March 2) will be at the RiverBend Growth Association, 6722 Godfrey Road.
The cost is $75 to attend at May described as an informational and resource-packed series. For details and to register, visit conta.cc/2zVLqEE.
The Metro East SBDC assists existing companies as well as new businesses headquartered in the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is a no-cost service to the community supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and SIUE.
Tthe SBDC network positively impacts the Metro East by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining jobs and encouraging capital investment. It enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses. To learn how the SBDC can help your small business, contact the Metro East SBDC at (618) 650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com.
