FAYETTEVILLE, NC – August 28, 2019 – Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Small Business Center is hosting two free courses this fall to assist veterans, military members (Active, Reserve, and National Guard), and military spouses interested in starting a business.
The Vet-To-CEO 7-week course, beginning September 3, covers key steps for business startup and highlights specially funded franchise opportunities available exclusively to veterans through the Veteran’s Entrepreneurship Loan Program. Veterans, Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard service members who pre-register may choose to participate in face-to-face classes (Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m., Sept. 3-Oct. 15); live, interactive webinar; or on demand by listening to recorded class sessions. Participants who complete the program will have an opportunity to pitch their business ideas during competition planned for November 1 and 2. To register, visit http://tiny.cc/SBCN_VETToCEO. Additional information is available at www.vettoceo.org.
The FTCC Small Business Center has joined with the Brian Hamilton Foundation and the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce to provide MilSpouse Starter U, free online training for military spouses interested in starting up a business. The StarterU program (September 12 through October 15, 2019), developed by the Brian Hamilton Foundation, will launch with a luncheon for military spouse class participants held at the Fayetteville campus on Thursday, September 12. Military Spouse Cameron Cruse (co-founder and co-CEO of R. Riveter) and Military Spouse D’Shawn Russell (founder and CEO of Southern Elegance Candles) will speak and present at the luncheon. Military spouses who successfully complete the program will be eligible to pitch their business ideas during competition November 7.
“We are excited about the opportunity to be involved in presenting these classes at no cost to our veterans, military members, and military spouses who pursue entrepreneurship and are interested in applying the expertise they have gained through their military experiences for business startups,” said FTCC President Dr. Larry Keen. “The combination of entrepreneurship and the specialized skills, knowledge, discipline, and experience gained through military service is a winning situation for everyone involved.”
“When you consider that the typical military family will PCS (permanent change of station) every 2.9 years and that military spouses face extraordinary challenges in their job searches, the pursuit of a personal business startup that is mobile makes sense. By building a business that can move with them, military spouses minimize the disruption of important financial contributions to the family,” said Kent Hill (hillp@faytechcc.edu), Director of the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business at FTCC.
VetToCEO, a nonprofit organization founded by veterans who have built successful companies, has provided entrepreneurial training since 2012. The Brian Hamilton Foundation is a non-profit organization based in North Carolina that provides educational programs for entrepreneurs. The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce has been devoted to growing a healthy business community for over 100 years.
Fayetteville Technical Community College was established in 1961 and serves over 35,000 students annually by providing over 280 occupational, technical, general education, college transfer, and continuing education programs to meet students’ needs and desires as well as the community. Visit FTCC’s website at www.faytechcc.edu. Like us on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter @faytechcc.
