As Fulton's Brick District Committee continues its efforts to draw new businesses downtown, two local organizations are providing classes to help hopeful entrepreneurs get started.
Central Missouri Community Action has a class on how to start a new business, and the University Extension Office in Callaway County will be hosting a series of entrepreneurship workshops.
Jennifer Grisham, the CMCA financial education coordinator, said the organization started offering the small business class about a year ago because "it goes along with CMCA's mission to help people become self-reliant."
Starting at the beginning of August, Grisham said CMCA officials plan to start holding the class on a quarterly basis at its Boone County office in Columbia and at the Cole County office in Jefferson City, but said if enough interest is generated in Callaway a class could be offered in Fulton as well.
For a $125 fee - which covers a book and the cost of putting on the class - students get a six-week class with 10-12 sessions. Grisham said the class provides would-be business owners with everything they need to get started.
"We work through a feasibility process, we look at marketing and pricing strategy, financials, we talk about the legal structure of a business. We teach them the things they need to think about before starting a business," she said. "They come out of the class with a feasibility study and all of the components of a business plan so they can go to lenders and get financing."
Grisham said Central Missouri Community Action is working on putting up a class calendar and registration forms on its website at www.showmeaction.org. In the meantime, those interested in registering for the course should contact Grisham at (573) 635-4480 or at [email protected].