Community First Fund offers one-on-one counseling to clients as well as numerous classes aimed at educating prospective and current entrepreneurs. 

ENROLLMENT

Participants can register for courses online.  Any questions please contact Jamie Frey at jfrey@commfirstfund.org or at 717-393-2351.  Please refer to the class name and location when registering.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Keys to Success: Tools for Business Planning

This business planning course lasts five weeks and details each area of the Core Four business model: market and need assessment, operation and management, marketing and promotion, understanding financing, financial literacy. Some course highlights include: characteristics of a successful business owner; financial planning and record keeping; key steps to understanding and building your business plan.  Upon completion of the course participants should have all the necessary tools to  build a comprehensive business plan. ($95)

State and Federal Procurement

Community First Fund offers classes on state and federal procurement, detailing how small business can become government contractors and how to become state certified as a woman-owned or minority-owned business. Additionally, the training provides information on state and federal purchasing procedures, which state and/or federal agencies need what you sell and how to market your business directly to them, and where to locate bid opportunities online. (Free)

Biz 101: Are you ready for business ownership?

This two-hour seminar sets the stage for understanding the fundamentals of what it takes to be an ideal entrepreneur. This seminar will help you: Weigh considerations in starting a business; Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in starting a business; Understand and adapt your life experience (skills) to the business arena; Understand the need of developing the business idea through sound research and development. (Free)

Marketing

This seminar is an overview of general marketing definitions and concepts, offers examples of cost effective means of boosting your business, and typical pitfalls to avoid. Time will also be spent learning about and developing an “elevator pitch” –-a 30 second definition of your business– and conclude with networking amongst class members. ($25)