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Channel 12
Shannon Slatton, reporting
sslatton@twelve.tv
September 13, 2010
Creating a crop of local businesses could be only a class away for people like Audra Robinson Murray.
"Starting my own business is a leap of faith because I don't have the money. All I really have is a great idea and the energy to make it happen," said Audra Robinson Murray with a smile.
The marketing consultant wants to open a retail store, but she's keeping the details to herself for now. Robinson Murray found just the class to help her with her big idea, a brand new entrepreneurial program at North Hennepin Community College.
"I love the idea of taking a class to walk me through the process rather than winging it on my own," said Robinson Murray.
The new adult education class is called Enterpreneurship: Communities of Color. While the program will target minorities, anyone is welcome to participate.
"We wanted to look at our program as an incubator of entreprenurship," said Nerita Hughes, business solutions director at North Hennepin Community College. Hughes help develop the 13 session program, which will run from October to January. Topics covered will range from developing business plans to securing financing to marketing your brand.
"What was missing in these programs were basic applications," said Hughes. "A lot of people would go through these classes and not understand fundamental concepts."
The program is launching for a low price of $99. If the pilot program works, Hughes says the sessions will be fragmented so entrepreneurs can just participate in whichever area they need help. Hughes also hopes this promotes business stability and assists businesses in passing the difficult first five years.
"This will really allow the entrepreneur to be able to have a ton of resources to be able to go to," said Hughes.
Audra Robinson Murray hopes the resource will help her grow her business into a sustainable one for Brooklyn Park.
"I've always had big ideas," said Robinson Murray. "Now this is my opportunity to dig in and work on my big idea."
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