Posted: Monday, September 8, 2008 11:15 am

The Messenger 09.08.08

The Small Business Development Center at Dyersburg State Community College and the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce have announced that 18 entrepreneurs have graduated from the Jump Start entrepreneurial training course.
The course was the first of its kind ever offered in the region.
Graduating ceremonies were held at the Lannom Center in Dyersburg.
For the past six weeks, the 18 budding entrepreneurs participated in the 36-hour training course designed to help them build their business plans. Dr. Jamie Frakes, director of the Small Business Development Center at Dyersburg State, was the training facilitator for the class.
“The participants received some intense training in the classroom and were required to complete outside homework in addition to their in-class activity,” Frakes said.
Instructional materials for the course came from the Kauffman Foundation’s Fast-Trac program. Fast-Trac is grounded in the business planning process. Participants learned the importance of business planning, marketing plan preparation and establishing key assumptions for managing their business enterprises.
The course was offered through a partnership between Dyersburg State Community College, the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce and the Southeast Innovation Center at Southeast Missouri State University.
Participants who complete a business plan and submit it to the Southeast Innovation Center by Sept. 3 will be able to compete for seed capital for their business ventures through a Delta Regional Authority grant. The most viable business plans could receive an award up to $3,500 that could be used in the start-up or expansion of their small business.
The Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce provided support for the program by hosting the course at the Lannom Center for Business Development.
“I think the Jump Start program is the best program we’ve ever offered small businesses. I am pleased with the number of graduates that completed the program. This is something I want us to continue offering to the business community,” said Alan Hester, president and CEO of the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce.
Dyersburg State Community College provided support for the Jump Start program through its support of the Small Business Development Center. Community colleges play an important role in entrepreneurship, business and economic development through supporting programs like Jump Start.
Jump Start class graduates include Laura Mann, Krystal Higdon, George Moody, Debra Mitchell, Sharon McElrath, Joyce Smith, Bentley Quertermous, William Warren, Kathi Clements, Cynthia Carwhile, Chelsea Greer, Vince Haymon, Joe Robinson, Chasity Doss, Laura Davis, Ron Coffman, Michelle Coffman and Veronica Johnson.
For more information about the Jump Start program, contact Frakes at (731) 286-3201.