Pottsville Area Development Corp. is hosting a pair of entrepreneur clinics that are free and open to the public later this month.
These clinics are being held simultaneously with the Launch Pottsville business startup contest, run by PADCO.
Here’s some more info on the entrepreneur clinics, first.
These sessions for any budding entrepreneurs will be held at Union Station in Pottsville, in the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce/SEDCO meeting room. Each is held from 6-7:30 p.m. and will feature guest speakers who’ll provide specialized information to attendees.
The subjects in each seminar are designed to help a person with a business idea get it into the launch stage.
- Jan. 12: Business Plan Writing and Financial Forecasting
- Jan. 19: Finalizing Your Business Plan, Personal Finance, and Real Estate
Again, these seminars are free and open to the general public, not just Launch Pottsville competitors.
Savas Logothetides, executive director at PADCO, tells The Canary, “The seminars will be valuable to anyone in the process of opening a business, thinking about opening a business, or even already in business and looking to improve their acumen. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit these seminars will be an asset in taking you to the next step.”
Launch Pottsville Business Competition Enters Phase 2
Regarding that contest, PADCO says the business competition is entering Phase 2.
A total of 15 applications were received. Of those, the field was initially narrowed to 11 to enter Phase 1 of Launch Pottsville.
The non-profit PADCO says the ideas from those in Phase 1 represent myriad business types. Entering Phase 1 meant conducting an interview with the contest’s 6 judges.
Following that round, all 11 competitors were moved to Phase 2, during which the entrepreneurs are paired with local business mentors. The mentors will help the competitors develop a financial plan for their business and even scout some real estate where they can launch.
For those that make it out of Phase 2, the final event is a Shark Tank-style elevator pitch. PADCO says that’ll be held at Pottsville YMCA on April 28 in front of an audience.
Launch Pottsville has more than $150,000 in startup funding and pro bono business services available to competitors. It’s designed to get new downtown Pottsville businesses off the ground.
PACO says winning businesses could be open by the end of this year. The Launch Pottsville competition is being organized and funded by PADCO, the Pottsville Redevelopment Authority, the Continued Progress Project, M&T Bank, and Riverview Bank.
Email or call PADCO (570-628-4647) for more information about the contest.
