Fast Trac Workshop by SCORE Lancaster, March 2010

Lancaster, PA -- Gerard Glenn, President of the Lancaster Chapter of SCORE announced its sponsorship of the First Step FastTrac class for this Spring. First Step is a twelve week course which teaches budding entrepreneurs how to start their own small businesses. The series, co-sponsored by SCORE and ASSETS Lancaster, is the second one to be held in Lancaster.

"Our first course last Fall was so successful, we decided to hold it again," Glenn said. "We graduated 19 students who are looking to open businesses ranging from restaurants and remodeling contractors to accounting and veterinarian services. Their response to the program was simply outstanding."

The comprehensive course - developed by the prestigious Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas -- teaches students the basics of starting their own businesses including in-depth sessions on how to conduct a feasibility study, how to market your business, pricing your product, how to prepare accurate budgets and financial projections, how to write a business plan and how to find funding for your start-up. Each course is taught by successful businessmen and women from the Lancaster area and includes lectures, hands-on entrepreneurial experiences and individual and group coaching and mentoring.

"The sessions included all necessary aspects you need to know when you plan to start a business. They were clear and easy to follow step by step. The entrepreneur's handbook, the extra information, the email message follow-ups to all sessions were fabulous!", according to Nilda Vega, a Fall graduate.

"We've taken the suggestions of our first group of graduates and made the course even better, " said Lou Davenport, the FastTrac� instructor. "We've added more time with the individual coaches; increased the amount of hands-on time students have in our computer lab with the financial templates; and will tailor the business examples we use to meet the specific needs of the local businesses students want to start up."

The First Step FastTrac�course takes place every Tuesday night, beginning March 2, 2010 and runs from 6 to 9 PM. It is held at the Earl B. Hess Training Center, located in the ASSETS building at 237 North Prince Street in Lancaster.

Tuition for the course ranges from $75 to $575 and is based on household income. Some tuition reimbursable scholarships are available thanks to a grant from Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

For more information on the upcoming courses, please contact: SCORE at (717) 397-3092 or Maria Iniesta at (717) 393-6089 or visit: www.scorelancaster.org.