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Community Business Academy

This 12-week course offers fun and interactive training and mentorship for business planning and management.

The Community Business Academy is:

  • Offered twice per year in the Spring and Fall with 13 concurrent classes for each course
  • Twelve class sessions plus an introduction and graduation session
  • Teaches fundamentals like budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping and financing
  • Spring 2024 course will be taught in English and Spanish. Classes are held in person
  • Classes will be 2.5-hour sessions, 5:30 - 8:00 pm. Spanish will be held on Tuesdays and English on Thursdays
  • Classes are offered to entrepreneurs and business owners in and around Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
  • Accommodations are available for translation
  • If you need assistance with child care or transportation, let us know. We are here to help eliminate barriers and find solutions!
Elevate Community Business Academy Member
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The Community Business Academy is for you if:

  • You have a vision and passion for starting your own business
  • You have a strong business idea and experience in your chosen industry
  • You own a business but think you could be more organized and more successful with business training
  • You are a resident of Kandiyohi County, or your business is or will be located in Kandiyohi County

The Elevate Community Business Academy exists to help you jumpstart your vision of business ownership or enhance the business you already have started.

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During the Community Business Academy:

  • You will have homework assigned in class which is designed to help you gather basic information required in a business plan
  • You will assess who your target customers are
  • You will calculate how much money you will need to get started
  • You will calculate what are your costs and how much money your business may make
  • You will gain skills to help determine your competition and how to have a competitive edge in your industry
  • You will find out where you can get capital (money) to get started
  • You will learn how to create and use financial document tools for recording and reporting your income and expenses
  • You will discover ideas to keep your business legally registered and safe
  • By graduation, you will be able to write your basic business plan!
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The curriculum is based on Adult Participatory Learning methodology, which means there is an emphasis in hands-on, experiential learning and reinforcement of key concepts. During the sessions, participants will be guided through exercises, business simulations, and group discussion. You will learn as much from your classmates as you do from your instructors. You will also have a lot of fun testing your business ideas in a safe space with people who become invested in your success.

Entrepreneurs who complete the program receive:

Certificate

A certificate of Graduation from Community Business Academy

Action Plan

An individualized Action Plan outlining “next steps” to help meet your business goals

Community Network

Graduates may join the community network of Elevate and Rising Tide Entrepreneurs

Meet the Mentors

Classes

Get the support you need!

Join the Elevate Community Business Academy today.

Inquire Here about Classes
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