Vermont Entrepreneurs to Learn Business Growth Strategies at SCORE Workshops
Vermont entrepreneurs looking to expand or start businesses have the opportunity to learn growth strategies from a team of experts in a series of three workshops, beginning Monday, August 3 in Barre.
The Grow Your Business workshop series, organized by the Montpelier chapter of SCORE, focuses on the areas of marketing, obtaining financing, and developing a business plan. “As a volunteer SCORE business mentor, I often have conversations with business people about these critical areas,” said Bertil Agell, Montpelier SCORE chapter chair and Vermont SCORE district director. “We’ve assembled a team of professionals to give Vermont entrepreneurs a crash course in marketing, finance, and business planning. By participating in this workshop series, business owners will have the skills they need to take their companies to the next level.”
The series kicks off on August 3 with a marketing workshop, which includes market research, building a brand, and launching a marketing campaign. Participants will also learn about how to use educational content in marketing. The marketing workshop leader is Steve Larose, an independent marketing consultant and SCORE volunteer mentor.
Obtaining financing for business operations is the second workshop topic on August 10. Participants will learn how to prepare to approach a lender, including knowing which factors lenders are evaluating in their decision process. General loan terms and conditions will be discussed. The workshop will be led by Vallerie Morse, deputy district director of the Vermont office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Also participating will be representatives of Community Capital of Vermont, Vermont Community Loan Fund, Community National Bank, and the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Flex Capital Fund.
The series concludes on August 17 with a session on developing a business plan. The workshop will cover what goes into the planning process, focusing on strategic objectives and the eight separate sections that make up a comprehensive business plan. The workshop will be led by Agell, who has experience both as a start-up entrepreneur and as a corporate executive.
Each of the three workshops runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will be held in the second floor community room at Community National Bank, 316 North Main Street, in Barre. The registration fee for the workshop series is $75 and includes a continental breakfast at each session. Online registration is at https://goo.gl/BUU4uL.
Montpelier SCORE belongs to a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring entrepreneurs and small business start-ups. In Vermont, volunteers with extensive business management experience are available to provide confidential free advice on a broad range of subjects. SCORE also provides local workshops and events to connect small business owners with the people and information they need to start, grow, and maintain their businesses.
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