Continuing Education launches new workshop for budding business entrepreneurs

A new eight-week workshop offered through Illinois Valley Community College Continuing Education and Business Services will equip budding entrepreneurs to launch or expand their businesses.

By the end of the eight-session Small Business Accelerator class, participants will have defined a business plan, received feedback from peers and mentors on the business model they created, and developed a plan for funding and marketing.

The hands-on workshop uses the nationally recognized Kauffman FastTrac curriculum. The series concludes with a Shark-Tank inspired pitch competition where top participants receive awards to invest in their businesses.

The class will meet on Tuesdays, February 17 to April 14, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the main campus. There will be no class on March 10. The instructor is Connor Cofoid, an IVCC alum and founder of a startup consultant business.

Cost of the program is $549, but grant funds can reduce that total by half if students register through IVCC Continuing Education. To register, call 815-224-0427 and reference ID 25908. For information about this and other classes offered by Continuing Education and Business Services, visit www.ivcc.edu/enroll.