Owners of small businesses that make between $150,000 and $4 million in revenue, have operated their company for at least two years, have at least four employees (including themselves), and want to take their companies to the next level of growth might consider applying for a free training program operated by Los Angeles City College.
Called the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, the program is seeking about 30 owners or co-owners to participate in an intensive, 11-week training sequence that utilizes experts and peer learning to help entrepreneurs learn how to grow their firms.
According to the website, the program will be most beneficial for business owners who:
* Own an established business that is poised for growth.
* Have a diverse base of customers.
* Can demonstrate that they have thought critically about how to grow their companies.
* Demonstrate a need for the program but are unable to access or afford a business management education.
The classes are held all day every other Friday, and those selected must also commit to an additional six to eight hours of out-of-class activities.
Students follow a curriculum developed by Boston-based Babson College, one of the nation’s premiere entrepreneurial training universities. And the overarching goal of the initiative is to grow 10,000 businesses over the next five years to the point where they can create additional jobs.
Selected participants will also receive individualized advice from business advisors and have the opportunity to apply for loans through the Valley Economic Development Corp.
At the end of the 11 weeks, participants will have completed a written growth plan and have developed a group of people to whom they can turn for advice and suggestions.
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative is a national program with operations in Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Long Beach. The deadline to apply for a spot in the next Los Angeles class is July 16, and those interested can download an application from the website www.lacc10sb.com.
A series of information workshops will be held to discuss the program and walk people through the application process. The first is Thursday, June 28, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., Mayor’s Conference Room, third floor; (Parking information will be emailed upon receipt of RSVP).
The next one is July 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Community Financial Resource Center, 4060 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.
The application workshops will be held July 6 and 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at Los Angeles City College at the LACCD Van de Kamp Innovation Center, 2930 Fletcher Drive, Los Angeles.
