VGCC Gives People REAL Opportunity To Prepare To Run Own Businesses

For people who have dreamed of starting a business and have an idea but don’t know how to get started, Vance-Granville Community College has the REAL deal for you.

Vance-Granville’s Small Business Center is sponsoring a REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) class to prepare persons for self-employment. The REAL class will meet on Monday evenings, Jan. 26-March 29, in Room 7104 on VGCC’s main campus in Vance County.

Ann Jaeger of Henderson, who has owned and operated several successful businesses, will be the REAL instructor. The 10 class sessions will explore key issues necessary to start and operate a profitable business. 

Students will assess their self-employment potential, look at business plans and basic business structures, do market research and feasibility studies for their proposed business. They will analyze competition, learn about taxes and licenses, cash flow and numerous other things that can make or break a small business.

This is an activity-based class that includes many practical applications of business principals, said Diane Finch, Small Business Center coordinator. Students will utilize the research and data they gather during the course to prepare a business plan.

There will be a $60 registration fee for the REAL course. Space is limited, and interested persons should contact Diane Finch at (252) 738-3240 for more information and to pre-register.

Persons who have been laid off from a manufacturing job after January 2000 will have their registration fee and book paid for by the New Opportunities for Work (NOW) program. An information session on this and an introduction to the REAL course will be held at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, in Room 7107 at VGCC’s Main Campus.