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SBA Looking For Emerging Leaders to Grow Their Small Businesses and Lift Underserved Communities
by ngoriel, Community Moderator
- Created: February 14, 2013, 1:10 pm
- Updated: February 14, 2013, 1:11 pm
For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking small businesses to partake in its highly successful Emerging Leaders executive-level training initiative that provides them with the tools they need to sustain and grow their businesses.
Recruitment Underway
Local recruitment for the 2013 training cycle is underway now at SBA district offices, and classes are scheduled to begin in April. For a list of participating cities and to get more information about the Emerging Leaders initiative, go to www.sba.gov/emergingleaders or contact your local SBA District Office in that area.
Initiative is Growing
The initiative has expanded to some 27 cities and communities across the U.S. Since 2008 the Emerging Leaders initiative has helped more than 1,300 promising small business owners in underserved communities attend classes and graduate, increase their revenue, create jobs, and help drive local economic growth.
These training classes attract participants from all types of entrepreneurial disciplines and industries from all over the country, and are part of just one of many programs the SBA offers nationwide to help spark small business growth and create jobs. Watch this three-minute video that includes testimony by entrepreneurs who have benefitted from the initiative.
Showing Results
The Emerging Leaders initiative has been a catalyst for expanding opportunities for both urban small business owners and Native American communities. Sixty-seven percent of surveyed participants reported an increase in revenue, while 75 percent of those surveyed reported maintaining or creating new jobs in their communities. Surveyed participants also reported having secured more than $26 million in new financing for their businesses, and an increase in confidence when applying for government contracts. As a result, nearly half of the initiative graduates reported securing federal, state and local contracts, worth more than $330 million.
Educating and Training
The seven-month training includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time per participant and provides the opportunity for small business owners to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and financial communities. This year SBA will launch an Emerging Leaders alumni network to continue the business-to-business connection and continuous learning.
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Comments
Choice Care | Window Shopper | 2/19/2013 - 8:12 pm
Internet, Skype and Web Chat? Or other electronic formats? It might open up
the trainings to more people and more opportunities to grow.
max | Window Shopper | 2/17/2013 - 4:03 pm
GregAW | Window Shopper | 2/17/2013 - 7:31 am
and Los Angeles area. The capital is never on list like this. They may as
well move the Governor to LA and the Legislature to San Francisco.
SherylE | Window Shopper | 2/16/2013 - 5:48 am
time in business but not the other two criteria: number of employees and
funds area. I think this certainly would be an awesome learning for myself as
well as my volunteer Program Manager.
Natale, quick question, the website indicates that selected locations are
established based on funding - could we not get this training in my location
if I supported the funding piece? According to what I read briefly, 100 in
class hours are required so I'm assuming the remaining curriculum is
available online. I would love to participate in this.
We have some awesome Entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Northwest
region of NC who could certainly use this training to build and grow their
small business. This could spark a growth in our area by allowing us to add
to our professional knowledge plus lean more about opportunities to enhance
our business to the point of being able to hire employees; a win-win for this
section of NC's small business and individuals looking for work in the near
future. I, very excitedly look forward to your comments.
SherylE | Window Shopper | 2/16/2013 - 5:35 am
opportunity within our local SBA office. Very exciting and needed resource.
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