Contact: Karl Heck, Community Development Specialist, Greene County EDT&P
(518) 719-3290
Greene County’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning is now accepting reservations for the Spring 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, March 19 and Friday, March 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Emergency Management Center at One 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 enterprises continues to grow, and that over 1,000 business locations are registered with the County’s Buy in Greene business directory. Greene County had the highest percentage growth for in-county job creation in New York State in 2014, and the County 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, Greene County 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, with the $25,000 deferred-payment loans provided to qualified startup or existing microenterprises 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.
Greene County 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 Greene County, as well as Greene County 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.
Greene County 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. The Buy in Greene website currently has over 1,250 likes on Facebook, and the number 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, March 13, 2015.
The Greene County MAP 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.
If you want to learn more about how to Make It In Greene, check out our free helpful business guides and contact the Invest In Greene team by email or phone at 518-719-3290.
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Topics: Success Stories
