530/741-6463
 mhansen@syix.com
(SBDC) 530/749-0153

 Business Graduates Hit the Streets

The eighth Microenterprise Training Program class recently graduated 15 business entrepreneurs from the Yuba-Sutter area.  Developed as a joint partnership with the County of Yuba, the Yuba College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation, a microenterprise is defined as a small business that employs five or fewer employees and operates on a small budget.  In the Yuba-Sutter area, 72 percent of the businesses fit this definition.

The training programs are designed to give business owners and potential business owners the essential expertise in marketing, research, financial planning, and marketing strategies to help assure success in their business ventures.  The Yuba College SBDC provides training and consulting services.  The training classes or a minimum of 12 contact hours with an SBDC consultant is a requirement to access the Micro Loan Program, which provides loans ranging from $250 to $25,000.  The Yuba College SBDC assists clients with preparing the loan application, and Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation assesses client loan applications and services the loans approved.

Graduation was held on May 18, 2004.  Graduates included:  Pauline Crosby, Pamela Berger, and Rick Gauthier with perfect attendance, Mike Hadden, Lane Jackson, Kristie Laine, Clay Leffew, Donna Nevarez, Ranjit Sandhir, Vishal Sharda, Tamra Spoto, Victor Valentin, Robert Fornoff, William Elliott, and Della DeLima.

The program is funded through the County of Yuba under the Yuba County Job Creation Investment Fund Grant, Community Development Block Grant Funds, program income from revolving loan fund programs, and business contributions.

The next Yuba-Sutter Microenterprise Training Program is scheduled to begin early September.  Interested entrepreneurs can sign up by calling the SBDC at 749-0153.