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The City of Rochester MAP Graduation - May 2008

 

 

The Enterprise Center, Inc. along with the City hosted a MAP graduation ceremony honoring 28 individuals and businesses, 7:00 p.m., Wed., May 28 at Council Chambers, Rochester City Hall.

MAP provides entrepreneurs interested in starting or expanding their own business with training, technical assistance and access to low interest loans. With funding from M & T Bank, the Enterprise Center, Inc. and the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, MAP’s overall goal is to support viable small businesses in Rochester.

Graduates from the program attended a 12-week business ownership training program.  There was a mix of startup and existing businesses who participated in the classes.

Sally Kamprath, President, ReHouse Architectural Salvage, feels “we can go forward with the correct knowledge to grow our corporation. This course is a great opportunity for a new start up and businesses wanting to expand, the City of Rochester will benefit from well educated entrepreneurs.”  

The 12-week training program covered all aspects of operating a small business, including going into business, taxes, legal/business law, budgeting, financial statements, recordkeeping, computer applications and employee issues.

                          

“The training was invaluable, the information that we received really added much more value than the $50.00 that we paid as participants,” was Van Smith’s, Recovery Houses, thoughts on the program. “I honestly feel like we, as a class, have been informed of the correct way of establishing a business and given the tools.”

 Persephone Modeste felt the course was worth the time and money she invested. "The microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) helped me to realize that my desire to establish a business and help the women in our community could be more than a dream. The quality and the cost of the MAP program is unprecedented.  The education provided through MAP staff, community and business professionals led me to reassess my goals and outcomes. I now have the tools, knowledge and on-going support to develop, institute and maintain a community organization that will provide services to enhance homes and families, starting with women."

 

 Program “graduates” who completed the educational and technical assistance components will be eligible to apply for low-cost, flexible term financing, in addition to receiving assistance in accessing capital from other public and private resources. The program includes a post-business support program to nurture and strengthen developing businesses in their startup phase.

 

 

Applications are being accepted for a fall 2008 class, those interested in participating must contact The Enterprise Center for an application, 226-1623.

 

Posted On: Thursday, May 29th, 2008 @ 10:30 am by Web Administrator

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