Recently Downtown Mansfield, Inc. touted the fact that 15 new businesses opened in downtown Mansfield during 2019 – An accomplishment that we can all feel great about. It says a lot about the faith that we citizens have that Richland County is a great place to live and work.
Opening a business can be daunting if you don’t know the ropes, and that’s where the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC) comes in. They created a Microbusiness Development Program, which they are expanding and re-launching for 2020, to provide guidance and instruction for those interested in starting a business.
The entire program lasts 3 months. One focus of the course is the creation of a business plan, and along the way they will also teach the fundamentals of starting and running a business. Lessons will focus on a variety of topics including design, marketing, bookkeeping and financial literacy. One of the big benefits of the program is that NECIC is able to connect participants with local community resources and continued learning opportunities. Forming those relationships can be the key to success for a new business. Importantly, once the course is completed, participants will be eligible for a microloan of at least $500.
NECIC will offer this 3 month course 3 times during 2020, the first period runs February to April. These classes will begin February 4, and be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at NECIC (134 N Main Street, Mansfield).
The cost of the course is $10. For full details about this course and to sign up, visit the NECIC online.
