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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The economy isn’t stopping some Mesa County entrepreneurs from starting, or expanding, their own businesses.
And although the banks have tightened up their lending, the money is there if you’re prepared, said Julie Morey, Small Business Development Center director at Mesa County’s Business Incubator Center.
“People were getting loans they shouldn’t have gotten — for their own good,” Morey said. “I’m all for the underwriting criteria being a little stricter.”
The Incubator is gearing up for its annual spring Leading Edge program — an intensive training course for existing small business owners or those who are considering starting a new business.
If people do their homework, they’ll come away from the 12-week program with a completed business plan and knowledge of what it takes to start and run a business, Morey said.
“A business plan backed by research will be really important for bankers to be able to lend,” Morey said.
There are basically two types of people who attend the Leading Edge class: a person with an idea, but who is afraid to move forward; and someone with an existing company who wants to expand and needs a structured plan to acquire bank funding.
The Leading Edge program, which includes a weekly three-hour session for 12 weeks, is “a big commitment,” Morey said.
Instructors teach market research, personnel management, inventory control and how to look at financial statements and develop cash-flow projections.
“We’ll go over businesses that want to expand and are looking for money,” Morey said.
Grady Busse and his staff of five or six at Action Publishing attended the Leading Edge class in 2001.
“It was very good,” Busse said. “The exercise of writing a business plan was critical to our success.”
Several people, like Terri Leach, owner of Pro Powder Coating, attend Leading Edge more than once.
In 2003, Leach attended the class to learn the basics for starting her business. In 2006, she retook the course to reinforce what she’d learned and applied.
Incubator Executive Director Chris Reddin is the lead instructor. Other instructors include Morey, Helen Roe, a member of the Incubator Management team, and Analisa Pearson, Kitchen Incubator program manager.
A person wanting to take the Leading Edge course should have a clear idea of what kind of business they’d like to have, Morey said.
“It’s hard to get a lot out of the class unless you have a business idea to use as your guinea pig,” she said.
Morey said she’d steer someone without a specific business in mind first to one of Mesa State College’s entrepreneurship classes.
“It’s a great way to get your feet wet and see if entrepreneurship is even for you,” Morey said.
“You have to love the technology side of things, as far as your product or service goes,” Morey said. “But you also have to love the business management side as well.
Leading Edge is offered twice a year, in the fall and spring. The next program, held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., begins Feb. 10. Cost is $275. The price includes a set of “NXLEVEL Guide for Entrepreneurs” and the “NXLEVEL Business Plan Workbook and Resource Guide.” Classes are held at the Incubator campus, 2591 B 3/4 Road.
For more information or to request an application call 243-5242.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
And although the banks have tightened up their lending, the money is there if you’re prepared, said Julie Morey, Small Business Development Center director at Mesa County’s Business Incubator Center.
“People were getting loans they shouldn’t have gotten — for their own good,” Morey said. “I’m all for the underwriting criteria being a little stricter.”
The Incubator is gearing up for its annual spring Leading Edge program — an intensive training course for existing small business owners or those who are considering starting a new business.
If people do their homework, they’ll come away from the 12-week program with a completed business plan and knowledge of what it takes to start and run a business, Morey said.
“A business plan backed by research will be really important for bankers to be able to lend,” Morey said.
There are basically two types of people who attend the Leading Edge class: a person with an idea, but who is afraid to move forward; and someone with an existing company who wants to expand and needs a structured plan to acquire bank funding.
The Leading Edge program, which includes a weekly three-hour session for 12 weeks, is “a big commitment,” Morey said.
Instructors teach market research, personnel management, inventory control and how to look at financial statements and develop cash-flow projections.
“We’ll go over businesses that want to expand and are looking for money,” Morey said.
Grady Busse and his staff of five or six at Action Publishing attended the Leading Edge class in 2001.
“It was very good,” Busse said. “The exercise of writing a business plan was critical to our success.”
Several people, like Terri Leach, owner of Pro Powder Coating, attend Leading Edge more than once.
In 2003, Leach attended the class to learn the basics for starting her business. In 2006, she retook the course to reinforce what she’d learned and applied.
Incubator Executive Director Chris Reddin is the lead instructor. Other instructors include Morey, Helen Roe, a member of the Incubator Management team, and Analisa Pearson, Kitchen Incubator program manager.
A person wanting to take the Leading Edge course should have a clear idea of what kind of business they’d like to have, Morey said.
“It’s hard to get a lot out of the class unless you have a business idea to use as your guinea pig,” she said.
Morey said she’d steer someone without a specific business in mind first to one of Mesa State College’s entrepreneurship classes.
“It’s a great way to get your feet wet and see if entrepreneurship is even for you,” Morey said.
“You have to love the technology side of things, as far as your product or service goes,” Morey said. “But you also have to love the business management side as well.
Leading Edge is offered twice a year, in the fall and spring. The next program, held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., begins Feb. 10. Cost is $275. The price includes a set of “NXLEVEL Guide for Entrepreneurs” and the “NXLEVEL Business Plan Workbook and Resource Guide.” Classes are held at the Incubator campus, 2591 B 3/4 Road.
For more information or to request an application call 243-5242.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
