Now is the time to start planning your business!

The Greene County Department of Planning & Economic Development is now accepting applications for the Fall 2008 round of the Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) classroom training, which offers a nine-week instructional course in business planning and a variety of topics to assist new and existing entrepreneurs.  

“The County’s Microenterprise Assistance Program has been extremely successful in the development and growth of small business in Greene County,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Warren Hart.  Greene County has received three Microenterprise grants from the New York State Office of Community Renewal in the past six years, and the county ranks in the top ten in New York State for percentage of people working in microenterprises.

Specific classes cover areas such as marketing, accounting, cash flow analysis, business plan development and business regulations.  Instructors include local and regional experts, along with staff from the Planning and Economic Development Department.  One of the key goals of the training is to build the knowledge necessary for participants to develop and complete a business plan.  Owners and managers of existing businesses of five or fewer employees, along with potential start-up entrepreneurs, are eligible to participate.

A nine-week training class series will be held on Wednesday nights from September 10 to November 12 at the Business Resource Center on the fourth floor of the Greene County Office Building at 411 Main Street in Catskill.  The class is $150, with scholarships being available for low and moderate-income persons.  Participants must either live or work in Greene County.

Applications for the MAP classes are required, and may be obtained at the Informational Workshops, or by contacting the Greene County Planning and Economic Development Department.  Applications for the MAP are due in the Planning and Economic Development Department office on Friday, August 29 no later than 4:30 p.m.

The Greene County MAP has operated since 1998 in order to encourage small business owners and entrepreneurs to either start or expand businesses.  Upon completion of the business training course and the development of a viable business plan, participants may apply for a low-interest loan from the County’s Microenterprise Loan Fund.

To learn more about the MAP, or applying for acceptance in the Fall session, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.GreeneEconomicDevelopment.com" www.GreeneEconomicDevelopment.com or call Community Development Specialist Karl Heck of the Greene County Department of Planning and Economic Development office at (518) 719-3290.