 The
Microenterprise training program at ICOD begins with
a financial literacy course designed for clients
with little knowledge or exposure to the banking
system, poor or unfavorable credit, and a lack of
basic financial management skills. The course
reviews the basics of savings, budgeting, and
managing personal finances. It also provides the
foundation for the microenterprise training. These
skills are crucial to the success of managing both
personal finances and business finances.
The core of the Microenterprise Program is
microenterprise training. This five-week,
twenty-five hour course offers a multi-faceted
approach in both a classroom and hands-on setting.
Throughout the course, instructors review the basics
of creating and managing a small business. Clients
work with the instructor to develop a thorough,
customized business plan, increasing the probability
of starting and maintaining a successful business.
 The
primary goal of the microenterprise training is to
provide clients with sound business knowledge that
will allow them to successfully open,, revitalize,
stabilize, or expand a small business. The
microenterprise training curriculum content is
culturally sensitive and includes Vocational English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), considered a
key element of the program for non-native English
speaking clients.
 Vocational
ESOL coursework familiarizes students with business
terminology and the standards of the American
business culture¡ªboth of which are critical to
operate a business. Issues such as language barriers
and cultural differences are also addressed as they
relate to business development for foreign-born
clients. Interpreters are provided as needed.
The following is a
brief programmatic outline of the microenterprise
training course:
- Development of
Business Concept/Business Plan
- Business
Start-Up, (i.e., insurance and types of business
ownership)
- Target Markets
- Marketing and
Market Research
- Credit and
Financing
- Record Keeping
and Management
- Introduction
to Cash Flow
- Legal, Tax and
Governmental Compliance
Permanent employees
of ICOD as well as contract trainers staff the
technical assistance portion of the Microenterprise
Program. Speakers from outside enterprises such as
insurance agents or investment experts are often
invited to address specific topics and questions.
ICOD provides up to 18 months of individual
assistance to clients upon the completion of the
microenterprise training. Services include assisting
clients with individual needs in marketing and
financial projections, as well as general
operational assistance. Volunteers from
collaborative partnerships in Central Ohio also
provide specific entrepreneurial services. This
includes the provision of basic business-related
legal services on a pro-bono or reduced-fee basis;
tax related services; and individual counseling from
a business counselor from the Athens
Chamber of Commerce or the University of Georgia's Small Business Development
Center.
Once a business is
started, ICOD staff will conduct on-site visits to
gain a better sense of the daily realities that the
client faces. When a business is in the formative
stages, technical assistance focuses on financial
assistance (reviewing the financial portion of
business plans, working on bookkeeping, bank
financing, and taxes), and marketing (developing
marketing materials, marketing research and
networking with other businesses and organizations).
Many clients find these skills difficult to master
on their own.
Recognizing that networking is critical to success
in today¡¯s business world, ICOD conducts quarterly
business networking events for all previous and
current microenterprise clients. These events help
to link new entrepreneurs with established
microenterprise owners and help facilitate an
informal mentoring process. Business professionals
throughout the community are often invited to attend
these events, including attorneys, accountants,
insurance professionals, banks, and tax preparers
who can provide clients with additional services.
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