Q: My small business has gotten off to a good start. I've proved my concept, and there is ample unfilled demand for my service. Now I need to get prepared to grow my business substantially. How can I make that happen?
A: You need the expert training and mentoring that is required to make that leap forward to compete at a higher level. Fortunately, there's a successful program just getting started in Houston that can prepare you for the challenges you face.
The Small Business Administration's Emerging Leaders Initiative is a federal training program conducted in 48 communities since 2008. It specifically focuses on executives of businesses poised for growth, providing them with the organizational framework, resource network, and motivation required to build sustainable businesses and promote the economic development within urban communities.
Over the course of seven months, participants are given the opportunity to work with experienced mentors, attend specialized workshops and develop connections with their peers, city leaders, and the financial community. The initiative incorporates a research-based curriculum specifically designed to stimulate and support the expansion of your business. It enables participating businesses to engage in focused development and expansion strategies, including options for accessing new capital and securing government contracts.
The Emerging Leaders Initiative is for established business owners, not start-ups. The series is open to owners and executives of small businesses that have annual revenue of at least $400,000; have been in business for at least three years; and have at least one employee other than the owner or executive. There are no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate.
At the conclusion of the training, entrepreneurs produce a three-year strategic growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets that will help them access the necessary support and resources to move forward. The executive education prepares and encourages small businesses to move to the next level on their growth trajectory and helps them emerge as self-sustaining businesses that create jobs and build communities.
Participation is free. The only cost is your time and commitment to complete the curriculum over the course of seven months. All other costs are covered by the Small Business Administration and cosponsors SCORE and the Women's Business Center.
Business executives interested in participating should register before March 1 at www.interise.org/sbaemergingleaders. Classes begin in April. For information, contact Steve Curry at Stephen.Curry@sba.gov or 713-773-6542.
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