We believe in the power of entrepreneurship to help individuals and families take control of their lives and build more secure futures. We also believe that healthy, growing small businesses contribute to more vibrant communities. Join the Southeast Ohio Community Entrepreneurship Program. We will help you start or grow your own small business and make a positive impact in our community.

The Center for Entrepreneurship manages the program in close partnership with local nonprofit groups, government offices, small businesses, and other university partners across Southeast Ohio. (see below) The Summer 2024 Program is presented by the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers' Coalition, the Marietta College Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, and us at Ohio University. Applications for the 2024 program are open now.

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What past participants say...

Tara Slingerland - Butcher's Bites

"I found this course last minute, by chance, and I could not imagine where I would be today had I not made the decision to sign up. Transitioning businesses out of a pandemic, learning how to adjust with inflation, and heading into year five as a business owner are all monumental hurdles to get through in business and without the support and education from this bootcamp my businesses could have headed toward a very different fate. One of my life mantras, 'If you cease to learn you will cease to grow.' If there is ever a part 2, I will be the first to sign up!"

Ashley McGrother

"The Southeast Ohio Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs gave me the tools and confidence to move forward with starting my own business. The education and experience were invaluable and will help me achieve my goals in the future. I highly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in, or has already started their own small business."

Program Structure

The program starts with a bootcamp over 6 Saturdays in Summer 2024 and continues for the balance of 12 months. You will get training, one-on-one coaching, and mentoring from seasoned small business owners and entrepreneurs. By achieving business milestones, you will be eligible for grants (while funding lasts). You will have access to small business loans through partnering lenders. The program is valued at $500, but all participants with financial needs will receive full scholarships. It's free. We don't want anything to stop you from investing in yourself and your future. We hope you'll join us!

Goals

In partnership with Notre Dame's McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business and a growing network of community entrepreneurship initiatives, we seek to:

Foster the creation of new, profitable ventures by those facing economic or other disadvantages
Assist existing small businesses owned by those with disadvantages in becoming sustainable and growing
Work with community members on the development of both the person as an entrepreneur and the business as a successful venture
Identify and share best practices in poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship
Measure and track the development and performance of entrepreneurs and their ventures based on program participation
Celebrate entrepreneurial achievements of those facing/overcoming adversity

An Integrated Approach to Community Empowerment

The Southeast Ohio Community Entrepreneurship Program is an integrated, multi-faceted program that involves six core elements:

Training Programs: Community members participate in a six-week bootcamp, held on Saturday mornings, that introduces basic tools, concepts, and principles relevant to launching and growing a successful venture. The bootcamp is designed for people with little to no resources or background.
One-on-One Consulting: Following the training, a consulting initiative pairs faculty, graduate students, and other partners with the entrepreneurs to work one-on-one to solve particular problems.
Mentoring: Participants can receive mentorship from a successful entrepreneur who, where possible, has experiences related to the type of business the entrepreneur is working on. In addition, an ‘expertise pool’ of mentors is available with advice on specific problem areas.
Community Connect: Entrepreneurs are connected to valuable resources in the community through quarterly community forums, an internet platform, and other communication vehicles. Another component is the Co-Marketing program, which encourages community members to do business with the program’s entrepreneurs.
Microcredit: Local organizations and financial institutions create a microcredit fund that provides low-interest and no-interest loans and grants to individuals as they attempt to launch ventures.
Research and Tracking: The program conducts research documenting the challenges facing entrepreneurs, tracking their progress, and identifying elements that are successful in helping them to move forward.

Program Timeline

Program elements starting with 6-Week Bootcamp and continuing for the balance of a year with Student Consulting, Community Connect Events, and Co-Marketing Efforts

How to Get Involved:

After applying and receiving acceptance into the Southeast Ohio Community Entrepreneurship Program, participants will begin their experience with the Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs.

Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs

Program participants will benefit immensely from the Southeast Ohio Community Bootcamp—an intense, hands-on exposure to the fundamentals of launching and growing a successful venture, taught by seasoned faculty, subject matter experts, and successful entrepreneurs. The bootcamp occurs on six Saturday mornings in the summer.

Topics covered in the Community Bootcamp address all facets of a successful venture, ranging from developing a viable business concept to understanding your market, designing your profit model, setting up operations properly, marketing your venture, and understanding the basic numbers. Our underlying focus is how to think and act entrepreneurial—including how to do more with less—and how to grow a venture when you have little in the way of resources. The approach will be interactive, so participants will be encouraged to bring business ideas and challenges into the weekly discussions.

Who is eligible to participate?

Anyone in the community who suffers from adverse economic, physical, or related circumstances is eligible to participate in the program. We focus on supporting community members living in poverty who have a dream of starting and growing a venture, including those who have already started a venture but are struggling.

What is the cost?

None. It's free. All we ask is that you invest your time in yourself.

How do I apply?

The application deadline is 11:59 PM EDT on Friday, May 17, 2024.

How can I support the program?

We welcome the involvement of community members as volunteers, mentors, and donors. Please contact program director Paul Benedict at benedict@ohio.edu to learn more.

APPLY NOW!

Questions?

Contact the program director, Paul Benedict (benedict@ohio.edu)

Bootcamp Details:

Six Saturday mornings, 8:30 AM -- 1:00 PM*
*Most Saturdays will include a session from 12:00 -- 1:00 PM that digs deeper into a particular topic with local experts (lawyers, bankers, social media professionals, experts in government contracts).

2024 Bootcamp Dates (with themes covered that day):

Week One: June 8, 2024 (The Entrepreneurial Dream, Foundations)
Week Two: June 15, 2024 (What you need to know about the numbers)
Week Three: June 22, 2024 (Planning, thinking strategically, and managing your risks)
Week Four: June 29, 2024(Getting resources - including money - when you don't have any money)
Week Five: July 13, 2024 (Customers drive the business. Marketing)
Week Six: July 20, 2024 (Operations and other fundamentals that matter. "Graduation")