Edison State College to offer small business classes in January
Edison State College is gearing up to offer small business classes in Cape Coral early next year, an effort to educate new and current business owners, as well as increasing their presence within the city.
Themed “Taking Care of Business,” Edison State College Professor Tom McNulty said there will be two separate workshops.
One, titled “Is A Small Business Right For Me?”, will focus on people looking to start a new business. And the second, “Obtain a Competitive Advantage,” will tackle marketing, customer service and promotion for current business owners.
Each workshop will consist of seven, 90-minute sessions. Each workshop will cost $20. The price covers all seven sessions for each workshop.
McNulty said he’s been making an effort to reach out to the city recently, presenting small business themed speeches at local farmers markets and chamber of commerce luncheons.
“We want to have a presence in the community, and to start actively serving the community,” McNulty said.
Response to McNulty’s early efforts were “not as good” as he’d hoped they would be, but he did say some people have expressed interest.
He has several speaking engagements planned for next week, including another stint at the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral’s luncheon and the New Residents Club. McNulty also spoke at the South Cape business social on Wednesday.
Meeting space within the Community Redevelopment Agency office will actually serve as the classroom for the business workshops.
The CRA will also offer a full rebate of the workshop cost for anyone with an existing business within the CRA district.
CRA Economic Development Manager Helen Ramey said that one of the organization’s goals is to provide meeting space for the public at the CRA office in Big John’s Plaza.
“One of the reasons we have the common space here is for the community to utilize that space,” she said.
Ramey said that many times business owners want to improve their skills but are intimidated by re-entering the classroom.
She said the business workshops will provide a “casual environment,” one that can be used for the betterment of owners and their business.
“They will be able to get cutting edge, professional insight,” Ramey added.
The “Taking Care of Business” series of workshops will begin in January, and offered on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m., and Saturdays, 9-11 a.m.
For more information, call McNulty at 489-9454.