Successful Entrepreneurship Program Returning in September

An entrepreneurship program that has gone on for the past six semesters is returning to Central Community College in Hastings and Grand Island on Sept. 11. The program, created by Lisa Tschauner, business occupations instructor and entrepreneurship coordinator, includes 10 sessions that teach students the steps they need to take to plan and start their own business.

“The program has been very successful,” Tschauner said. Other colleges will use the curriculum for the program, created by Tschauner, in the future.

Though there are many different lessons within the 10 sessions, each one is designed to teach the student something different. The first lesson focuses on figuring out what type of business owner a student would be and how to turn his or her ideas into a business. Workshops are set up to engage students in hands-on activities such as laying out a business plan, working with specific concepts that apply to business ideas, and knowing how to take on the multiple roles of laying a foundation for a business.

Guest speakers are a big part of the course; in the second lesson, the guest speaker is usually someone who has taken an idea and made it into a business. Other speakers, including marketing directors from big and small businesses, contribute so that students can understand the different scenarios of each.

Students will be taught not only how to take their ideas and put them on paper, but also marketing, networking, brand imaging, sales tax, legal issues including employment, how to get a license, insurance and, finally, customer service policies.

The program is open to all students and community members ages 16 and older, and three credit hours to Central Community College will be awarded to those who finish the entire course; students will meet once a week, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Those under 16 can take the course with permission from their parents. For the entire course, the cost is $305; for the first eight sessions, the cost is $220; and for individual sessions the cost is $35 each.

Those who take the entire course will receive all the materials they require to complete the program, including a flash drive with the needed templates and a binder with information on the course and business basics. However, those who are only taking individual sessions will not receive the flash drive or binder.

Students who have completed the entire workshop will be able to put the final touches on their business plans and present them to small businesses in their area.