SitemapEric Jones has a plan to bring an out-of-this-world experience to the South Side.
“Landscaping is vision,” he said.
Earlier this spring, Jones received assistance from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. to help take his business to the next level.
After receiving a $40,000 grant from the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association for 2015, YNDC will continue to offer its small-business program to help new and established businesses reach their goals.
“We just want to give them a good foundation,” said Liberty Merrill, land reuse director for YNDC and the program’s coordinator.
The program will include a free seven-week business planning course in the fall, where participants will leave with a business plan outline and resources to apply for financing if needed. The course was first introduced in spring 2014 and offered again in spring 2015, which was the one Jones participated in.
“The class was very dynamic,” he said. Jones said he wanted to become aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the business he started in 2007.
Merrill said about 70 individuals have participated in the class, with about 20 graduating per session. So far, Merrill has come across a variety of typical markets such as transportation, child care, real estate and bakeries.
“It’s people who want to start regular businesses that are needed in the community,” she said.
Aieshya Dixon, the founder of Majestic Roots Naturals, also participated in the spring course. She started her business in October 2014, offering a natural-based line of hair and skin-care products.
“I still needed more knowledge,” she said.
After taking the course, she became more aware of her finances and established mentor relationships with some of the class’s guest speakers.
“I got more than I bargained for,” she said.
The course will run from Sept. 22 to Nov. 3 with a class each week from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays. The course is limited to 40 people, with 10 spots filled as of Wednesday. The deadline to register is Sept. 14, but Merrill expects it to be filled before then.
“We’ve had so much demand,” she said.
Additionally, the program, for the first time, will offer financial counseling to help resolve any credit issues, reach financial goals and seek financing. The program also will offer micro-loans ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, Merrill said.
For more information about the program, contact Merrill at 330-480-0423 or lmerrill@yndc.org.
To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here.
“Landscaping is vision,” he said.
Earlier this spring, Jones received assistance from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. to help take his business to the next level.
After receiving a $40,000 grant from the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association for 2015, YNDC will continue to offer its small-business program to help new and established businesses reach their goals.
“We just want to give them a good foundation,” said Liberty Merrill, land reuse director for YNDC and the program’s coordinator.
The program will include a free seven-week business planning course in the fall, where participants will leave with a business plan outline and resources to apply for financing if needed. The course was first introduced in spring 2014 and offered again in spring 2015, which was the one Jones participated in.
“The class was very dynamic,” he said. Jones said he wanted to become aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the business he started in 2007.
Merrill said about 70 individuals have participated in the class, with about 20 graduating per session. So far, Merrill has come across a variety of typical markets such as transportation, child care, real estate and bakeries.
“It’s people who want to start regular businesses that are needed in the community,” she said.
Aieshya Dixon, the founder of Majestic Roots Naturals, also participated in the spring course. She started her business in October 2014, offering a natural-based line of hair and skin-care products.
“I still needed more knowledge,” she said.
After taking the course, she became more aware of her finances and established mentor relationships with some of the class’s guest speakers.
“I got more than I bargained for,” she said.
The course will run from Sept. 22 to Nov. 3 with a class each week from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays. The course is limited to 40 people, with 10 spots filled as of Wednesday. The deadline to register is Sept. 14, but Merrill expects it to be filled before then.
“We’ve had so much demand,” she said.
Additionally, the program, for the first time, will offer financial counseling to help resolve any credit issues, reach financial goals and seek financing. The program also will offer micro-loans ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, Merrill said.
For more information about the program, contact Merrill at 330-480-0423 or lmerrill@yndc.org.
To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here.