Veterans receive no-cost business training

The Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC), housed at Grand Valley State University, is offering no-cost training to veterans who have an interest in growing or launching a small business.

“Many veterans are launching and growing businesses here in Michigan and they need assistance,” said Carol Lopucki, state director of the MI-SBTDC. “The training programs will help veterans evaluate their business ideas, build implementation plans and effectively grow their businesses.”

The courses are presented by experienced business professionals or current small business owners with pertinent expertise. The Entrepreneurial Series consists of five fundamental courses ranging from how to start a small business to how to market a small business. The Advanced Entrepreneurial Series includes:
• Essentials of Internet Business
• Running a Restaurant
• Succession Planning
• The Retail Survival Guide
• The Successful Contractor

“The training from the SBTDC has been excellent, timely and very appropriate for the business climate we are in,” said Larry Bergman, a veteran and the owner of Bergman Power Equipment. “The training has helped me look at how to grow a small business and how to better reach my customers.”  

The MI-SBTDC also offers a 10-week FastTrac NewVenture training program that aims to help entrepreneurs evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning their own business. During the course, entrepreneurs evaluate the feasibility of their business concept, make contacts, and learn how to start profitable businesses. They also learn how to attract new clients or customers, retain employees and improve service and product offerings.

In 2010 the MI-SBTDC trained 10,097 small business owners and entrepreneurs in 810 training courses. The MI-SBTDC also offers follow-up individual counsel at no-cost to the participants as their businesses grows.

Descriptions of courses offered, along with dates and locations can be found at www.misbtdc.org/training.