TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has launched a new pilot model that aims to equip local entrepreneurs with hands-on training.
It’s through a community entrepreneurship bootcamp.
“The model that we have implemented is to become a bridge between students and the community so they can use the knowledge they already have to make an impact on those businesses,” said SBDC Director Juliana Bolivar.
The bootcamp is a three-phase program that lasts ten weeks. It focuses on education, consulting and mentorship.
“It’s at the core of our mission to create resources for our community members for them to thrive and succeed in their businesses,” Bolivar said.
Not only does the program provide entrepreneurs the essential tools and skills needed to launch a successful business, it also selects five Troy students to act as business consultants.
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“They get to work and use their knowledge, understanding that it’s not something they are going to see in the classroom,” Bolivar explained. “Cultivating that next generation of business advocates and consultants to be mentors and supporters of our local economies truly means a lot for our mission.”
This role allows students to apply their business expertise and work directly with local entrepreneurs as they navigate through the program.
“We paired them with two or three businesses that had specific issues or projects that they wanted to work on,” Bolivar told TrojanVision. “The students completed their needs assessment, and we started helping them draft an action strategy in which they’re going to use to accomplish the goal the business is requiring or needing.”
Other tasks the student consultants will assist entrepreneurs with include content development for social media, financial projections and refining business plans.
The five students who were selected as consultants are Joynob Sultana, Laura Shumba, Jayden Raines, Ishu Ghimire and Ernestina Luna.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story had video attached to it that featured the IDEA Bank and the Student-Made Store. The Student-Made Store and IDEA Bank have no affiliation with the SBDC.
