A group of twelve local small businesses and aspiring business owners completed an eleven-week entrepreneurship course held at CNO’s offices. From food vendors to shop owners to artists to brewers, the course participants brought diverse experiences and skills to the group.  

CNO partnered with the Neighborhood Development Center (NDC).  NDC, a local non-profit that helps local residents start and expand businesses, develops the curriculum and deploys instructors with an expertise in small businesses management and lending to conduct this course in communities throughout the Twin Cities.

Over the eleven weeks, participants were guided through developing the core components of a standard business plan that is required to pursue small business loans or to court investors.   Students left with a solid introduction in refining businesses goals, market analysis, developing a marketing plan as well as budgeting and bookkeeping.  Even those who do not plan to pursue loans found the exercise of completing a business plan to be an invaluable tool in prioritizing how they invest their own time and dollars in the business.

As an added benefit to participating in the course, students receive up to ten hours of one-on-one consulting with the instructor.  After completing the course, students can access lending as well as low-cost or free technical assistance with marketing, accounting, securing retails space and other core business tasks through NDC.

CNO will host the course again this fall.  Whether you are a current businesses owner or daydreaming about starting one, consider signing up.  Contact Heidi Johnson McAllister at 612-724-7457 for more information. Or click here to find more information and the application.