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Overview

The word entrepreneurship evokes the image of an adventurer or pioneer, independently forging the path to fulfilling his or her passion and dreams, daring to assume the rewards of success and the risks of failure in the business venture. The Entrepreneurial Center is dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs in this journey by offering practical training designed to develop critical skills and provide information for the traveler just starting out, as well as the experienced explorer.

The Entrepreneurial Center offers three training possibilities to assist you on your journey:

• The Comprehensive Small Business Training Program is a 16-week all-encompassing curriculum that delves into topics essential to small business owners. The capstone of this course is a fully functional business plan. Students must complete the Self-Assessment Workshop prior to participating in this program.
• The Dreams to Reality Training Series offers practical, down-to-earth guidance in a hands-on classroom setting. Throughout the course, instructors review the basics of creating and managing a small business and lead you through both the startup and long-term planning.
• The Entrepreneurial Center also offers a variety of workshops and other opportunities for new or seasoned business owners. Our diverse workshops are designed to build your financial and business skills. Whether you are a new or existing business owner, work in the business environment or would like to explore the options and training available by Connecticut business experts, these workshops provide you with the information necessary for success.
• At the Entrepreneurial Center, we also view networking as a vital component of business development and strive to bring networking opportunities to our alumni. We encourage all alumni to participate and stay in touch with classmates to share professional expertise and remain updated on important business issues.

Comprehensive Small Business Training
Finding your business direction and moving full speed ahead is vital for the success of your venture. Comprehensive Small Business Training is a 16-week Certificate program that explores topics and issues important to small business owners and helps them clarify their goals, as well as how they will reach them. In this program, participants gain practical experience by using their business as the case study to:

• Research their market and industry
• Develop a marketing strategy
• Manage business operations
• Evaluate personal and business finances
• Plan their startup or business expansion

By the end of the program, participants have completed an extensive three-year business plan that includes a description of the marketing strategy, analysis of competition, executive summary and three-year financial business projection, including sales projections, income statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets.

This training program is offered twice a year with morning and evening sessions. Classes start in the first week of March and October. Tuition information, registration forms and tuition assistance applications are distributed in the prerequisite materials. 

Morning Program Begins: Wed., March 5, 2008
Evening Program Begins: Thurs., March 6, 2008

Take the first step toward improving and growing your business by viewing the program schedule and downloading a registration form.

Dreams to Reality
The Dreams to Reality Training Series helps you clarify your vision and get things started. During this hands-on classroom experience, instructors review the basics of creating and managing a small business.

The series helps students answer questions like:

• Do I have what it takes to own my own business?
• How much money will I need to start?
• Who are my customers, and how can I reach them?
• How do I begin?

Once these questions are answered, students are led through the planning and startup process, which covers the following practical, fundamental topics:

• Owning your own business
• Setting your goals
• Defining your dream
• Pricing your products and services
• Finding your market
• Understanding the business of business
• Financing your business
• Managing your records
• Managing your cash flow

Take the first step toward making your dream a reality by registering now for the next series.

Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: Gateway Community College, North Haven Campus, 88 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT 06473

If you are interested in learning more about the Dreams to Reality training series, please call us at (860) 768-5681.