Circles of Seven Begins Second Year

C7, the program designed to provide small and medium-sized business owners the opportunity to be mentored by a seasoned business person, has begun its second year. Topics covered include time management and setting priorities, basic marketing, and managing employees. The mentorship experience is conducted in a group setting with five other entrepreneurs seeking the same mentorship experience. C7 groups will meet each month until May 2009 when they will attend a graduation event.

Several client companies from the Illinois Small Business Development Center at ISU took advantage of this mentoring program during its first year. Entrepreneurs benefit through the relationships they will build with others in their groups. Mentors offer their wisdom and knowledge acquired from their experiences with growing their businesses.

This program was developed by the Economic Development Council (EDC) of the Bloomington-Normal Area in collaboration with the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University (SBDC).

The EDC's strategic plan has as its foundation a concentration on local business retention and expansion. Eighty percent of all new jobs will come from local companies over the next several years. The EDC's ability to assist these local companies with expansion, job creation and capital investment is at the core of its mission.

The Illinois SBDC at ISU was established in March 2005 to help support and grow the businesses already in the area, as well as assist new businesses as they begin with a firm footing. More healthy businesses in the area means more jobs and better quality of life for everyone.
Together, the EDC and SBDC are building a small and medium enterprise business infrastructure that will encourage and assist local business. Mentoring is a key component of the plan.

For more information or to join C7, http://www.bnbiz.org/news/page_one.php or http://bnbiz.org/business/business_mentoring.php