Next session of 10-week classes starts Monday
A training program offered by Macomb County for local entrepreneurs and owners of start-up companies is receiving rave reviews from recent graduates.
The program is known as the FastTrac New Venture Entrepreneurial Training , which is a patented program created in the private sector and provided by the county Planning and Economic Development Department , a certified affiliate.
Charlene Tope of St. Clair Shores, owner of a paralegal firm, said the $140 price for the 10-week, once-a-week class is “a steal” based on the amount of business advice received.
“I learned that success is really based on all this wisdom that’s been passed down through the years and (compiled by FastTrac). That’s the golden nugget I received,” said Tope, who created Probate Support Specialists.
“If you adhere to these formulas, you will be successful.”
With the fifth session slated to begin Monday, the classes offer expert speakers in topics such as marketing, finance, research, entrepreneurial skills and legal issues related to business ownership.
Developed by the Kauffman Foundation, the program is held at Velocity, the county’s business incubator and collaboration center in Sterling Heights.
In addition to Tope’s firm, recent top graduates who earned the “Strike it Rich” designation are: an online retailer that specializes in high-end gear and tactical equipment for law enforcement, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts; a free-lance communications expert starting her own company; and a new website designer and marketing company.
Participants learned how to create a 3-minute sales pitch to a bank when seeking financing, and a 1-minute “elevator pitch” to summarize the key aspects of their business. Most importantly, they are taught how to prepare a detailed business plan that touches on how to plan for all the basic costs ahead: payroll, supplies, equipment, insurance and others.
“Owning a successful small business can be daunting without the right information,” says Don Morandini, deputy director of the Economic Development department and a class instructor. “This class covers all of the basics in bite-sized chunks.”
Tope, who works out of her home, said she learned that her previous plans to quickly move her business to a storefront location would have “crashed and burned” her establishment. The program provided her with a solid, objective set of measurements to determine when the move will be right.
The program is co-sponsored by the county’s small business center, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Post-graduation, hands-on assistance is provided to graduates, particularly by the SBA.
Because the classes are financially supported by the MSU Broadband Technology Opportunity Program, the $140 price tag is hundreds of dollars less than in other parts of the country. For military veterans, the program is free.
The FastTrac classes will meet 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 30 through April 9, at the Velocity facility 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights. An orientation session on Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. will start off the program. Registration is required. For more information, call 586-469-5118 or email Denise.Mentzer@MacombCountyMI.gov .