Feature Article from The Whitewater Press - Holiday / Winter 2010  www.thewhitewaterpress.com

By Julie Fisher, CPC: Consultant & Coach - BetterWorld Studios, Inc.

            
Over the past year, a very successful entrepreneurial program, brought from Green Bay to Rock County, has provided opportunities to over 40 area residents who intend to start or grow businesses here in our corner of the state.
 
The program is called “E-Hub” and provides Rock County with a successful model that has resulted in the creation of 700 business start-ups and 3200 jobs in the Green Bay area since 2002.  Through this program, southwest Wisconsin area residents have launched or rebooted businesses ranging from IT consulting to pet sitting and food manufacturing to massage therapy—and a host of new business concepts are in the works as the current session continues in both Janesville and Beloit.

Over the past year, a very successful entrepreneurial program, brought from Green Bay to Rock County, has provided opportunities to over 40 area residents who intend to start or grow businesses here in our corner of the state.  Whitewater small business owners and entrepreneurs are invited to participate in this innovative program seeded by the Small Business Development Center at the UW-W.

E-Hub works with individuals exploring opportunities in entrepreneurship, businesses ready to launch, and existing businesses needing to reboot. Their signature series, “Stepping Up to New Opportunities,” equips participants with solid business ethics, exposure to innovative thinking, and the opportunity to begin writing a business plan. The program also opens their eyes to dozens of hands-on small business and entrepreneurial issues allowing participants to gain important knowledge before launching a new business.

In addition, and as a unique difference between this and other programs, E-Hub Rock County has assembled a dedicated bastion of business leaders, CEO’s, attorneys, bankers, marketers, and accountants who voluntarily serve as presenters, many of whom are successful entrepreneurs themselves.  Their technical expertise, understanding of the program’s mission and desire to “give back” truly provides a winning combination and ensures a strong support group for the budding area entrepreneurs.  

The next session begins late winter 2011. More information
can be found through the E-Hub facebook page found at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rock-County-E-Hub/136962433008747
or by contacting Eric Kuznacic at the Southwest Workforce Development Board.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs can also access video seminar training and many other resources from Director Bud Gayhart of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at www.discoverontherock.com

The SBDC offers high-impact, results-based business consulting and entrepreneurial training to help you grow your company.  The SBDC, as part of a nationwide network, provides high-impact, results-based consulting and training services to business owners and entrepreneurs.  In today’s economic environment, the SBDC is forging ahead to partner with new, existing, growing, and forward-thinking businesses as they navigate the waters of change.

Through targeted training, clients learn how to launch businesses, stabilize established ventures and take their companies to the next level. Grants are available to assist with the cost of some training.  Small business owners pay no fee to meet with SBDC consultants. In-depth projects such as facilitated innovation and matchmaking assistance for mergers and acquisitions are fee-based to cover costs. Call 262-472-3217 for details.

Working in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, and the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, the Whitewater SBDC provides consulting, training, information, resources and connections to help business owners and entrepreneurs succeed. Our service area covers Dodge, Jefferson, Rock, Walworth and Waukesha Counties in Wisconsin.