Helping small-business owners
& new entrepreneurs since 1985
Upcoming Events & Classes
- Oct. 2006 - March 2007
- Coordinators: Raymond Belanger, Susan Brin-O'Brien
- Who should attend? Farmers and other natural resource-based enterprises in western Massachusetts. What is an agricultural business cluster? Clusters are business-building networks composed of up to 10 owners/operators of agricultural enterprises who work and learn together over the course of a year to grow and develop their farms. This is hands-on learning. Each agricultural entrepreneur’s experience and participation provides the context for the “classroom for learning.” Read more
- Oct. 2006 - March 2007
- Coordinators: Raymond Belanger, Susan Brin-O'Brien
- Who should attend? Farmers and other natural resource-based enterprises in the Greenfield and Hilltown areas of Massachusetts. What is an agricultural business cluster? Clusters are business-building networks composed of up to 10 owners/operators of agricultural enterprises who work and learn together over the course of a year to grow and develop their farms. This is hands-on learning. Each agricultural entrepreneur’s experience and participation provides the context for the “classroom for learning.” Read more
- 6 - 9 pm, day TBD, beginning January 2007
- Course instructors: Raymond Belanger, Susan Brin-O'Brien
- Who should attend? This 10-session course is designed for you if your goals include improving your farm operations or growing your business, testing the viability of a new enterprise or value-added product, investigating a new marketing approach, or planning for farm succession. You may be farming full time or part time, you may be farming on land you own or land you rent; your business may be established or in the first few years of development but, at minimum, to benefit from this course, you must have access to a specific piece of land and have identified your farm's core enterprises. Included: individual counseling and opportunities to network with other farmers. Read more
- 6 - 9 pm, day TBD, beginning January 2007
- Course instructors: Raymond Belanger, Susan Brin-O'Brien
- Who should attend? Current and aspiring entrepreneurs in Franklin County. This intensive business-planning course guides and mentors participants through the planning process of exploring a business idea or evaluating an existing business. The Community Development Corporation uses the nationally recognized NxLeveL curriculum developed by entrepreneurs and professionals. Read more
- Days & evenings on a rolling basis, Providence, R.I.
- Coordinator: Raymond Belanger
- Urban Ventures is a business development network functioning as a physical and virtual business incubator, which provides customized business development services to select urban entrepreneurs. Each participant receives a business and skills-building plan, an industry mentor, access to practitioners and consultants, access to capital and procurement, and strategic advice from a board of directors. Read more
Agricultural Business Cluster (western Mass.)