Contacts: Shirah Apple (414) 297-1096/rachel.apple@sba.gov
MILWAUKEE–-There’s now more time for Milwaukee’s small business owners to register their interest in participating in SBA’s Emerging Leaders initiative in Milwaukee. Now in its eighth year, the Emerging Leaders experience—which is free except for the participants’ time–helps owners of existing urban small businesses with high growth potential to build sustainable, flourishing companies.
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service interviewed several 2014 graduates recently—read the full article here. Charles Carter, owner of Clean-Tec in Milwaukee, states in it, “…If they ever come up with a part two, sign me up because it helped me and my business tremendously.” Magic Maintenance founder and owner Guillermo Montoto Garza agreed. “Being able to share ideas … and learn about marketing, financials and human resources were all valuable.”
This seven-month-long intensive, which is free for participants, totals 100 hours of classroom time, networking, and mentoring. The Milwaukee instructor for Emerging Leaders is an experienced entrepreneur and instructor at Milwaukee School of Engineering and has taught the Emerging Leaders initiative for several years. Interise, a Boston-based business- and management-training company, developed the curriculum, which is based on their “streetwise MBA.”
More than two-thirds of past participants nationally have reported seeing their companies’ revenues rise, and three-quarters have said their companies have maintained or created new jobs. More than 60 Milwaukee small businesses have participated since the program started.
Businesses must be located in the City of Milwaukee and/or meet SBA’s criteria for small disadvantaged businesses. They should also be at least three years old, have at least one employee besides the owner, and have gross annual sales of at least $400,000. The application deadline has been extended to March 20; the course begins in April.
To learn more about Emerging Leaders in Milwaukee, contact Mary Trimmier at 414-297-1093 or visit www.sba.gov/emergingleaders. To apply, go to www.interise.org/SBAEmergingLeaders.
