Greene County’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning is now accepting reservations for the Fall 2015 Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) training classes. The two-day session is free, and covers the basics of business start-up planning, accounting and marketing. It will be held on Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the EmergencyManagementCenter at 25 Volunteer Drive (off Mountain Avenue) in Cairo.
“Greene County has well over 2,000 businesses, and the vast majority of those are small enterprises,” said Warren Hart, Director of the Greene County Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning. Hart added that the number of firms continues to grow, and that over 1,000 business locations are registered with the County’s Buy in Greene business directory. GreeneCounty had the highest percentage growth for in-county job creation in New YorkState in 2014, and is poised for continued growth and expansion.
For the third consecutive time that the State has offered funding for microenterprise development through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, GreeneCounty was selected as a recipient. The State funding will provide four $25,000 deferred-payment loans and four $15,000 deferred-payment loan/$10,000 loan combination will be provided to qualified startup businesses or businesses that have been in existence for six months or less that create at least one full-time equivalent job as part of their development and expansion. A minimum of 10% owner equity contribution is required for all projects, along with participation in a Microenterprise training course.
GreeneCounty is targeting Main Street businesses locating in established corridors, along with targeted sectors of the economy such as hospitality and craft beverage production. Businesses in those target areas will receive first consideration for funding.
Microenterprises are defined by the Federal government as businesses with five or fewer employees, one of which is the owner. Employees must be counted as “heads” for the purposes of eligibility, and not full-time equivalents. Owners of existing microenterprises in GreeneCounty, as well as GreeneCounty residents with potential startup businesses, are eligible to participate.
Class topics covered include marketing, accounting, cash flow analysis, business plan development and implementation, and business regulations and their impact. Instructors are local and regional experts. The training builds the knowledge necessary for participants to implement a business plan, and expand their markets and profits quickly once in operation. Participants should bring their business plans if they have been working on them.
GreeneCounty also has economic development loan funds available for job-creating projects through its Quantum Fund. A summary of its terms and conditions, along with application forms, may be found on the new Invest in Greene website at www.investingreene.com. The County has refreshed its Buy in Greene local purchasing campaign and created a new Invest in Greene website in 2015 in order to support local business development and investment. The Buy in Greene website currently has over 2,700 likes on Facebook, a number that continues to climb.
There is no charge for the MAP class, but advanced reservations are required. Reservations may be made by contacting the Greene County Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning, and should be requested no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2015.
The GreeneCountyMAP has operated since 1998 in order to encourage small business owners and entrepreneurs to either start or expand businesses. To learn more about the MAP, visit www.investingreene.com or call Greene County Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning at (518) 719-3290.