Vermont is seeking 15 small business owners to participate in the Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Initiative that will give them a three-year, tailored strategic growth plan for their businesses.
The SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative is free and its the only federal training specifically tailored for small business executives poised for growth. The program provides firms with the organizational structure, resource network, and assistance needed to build a sustainable business of size and scale.
It begins in April 2016 at Vermont Technical College in Williston and class is held in the late afternoon every other week through October. 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 curriculum is specifically designed to stimulate and support the expansion of a business. Expansion could be into new markets, increased revenues or increased capacity. Emerging Leaders delivers advanced training and provides strategies to assist firms access new avenues of capital. It offers practical tools to pursue new paths of business development and surrounds firms with a network of government resources and business leaders prepared to invest time and energy in their business.
At the end of the seven-month program, participants will have a three-year growth action plan with benchmarks and performance targets that will help them access the necessary support and resources to move forward.
To be considered, firms must have:
- Annual revenues between $400,000 - $10 million
- Been in business for at least three years
- At least one employee, other than self
There are currently no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate. Some examples of participating businesses include: manufacturers, retail/wholesalers, contractors, professional services and food service.
To be considered for the class, fill out the online application at interise.org/SBAemergingleaders by March 20, 2016.
More details about the Emerging Leaders Initiative is available at www.sba.gov/emergingleaders. For more information, email darcy.carter@sba.gov or call 802-828-4422 ext. 203.