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What is PROJECT OPPORTUNITY?
A great opportunity for veterans to start their own business in 2011.
“Project Opportunity” is a series of workshops planned to provide veterans with assistance in starting their own businesses. The first phase of Project Opportunity is to conduct outreach and educational sessions in Salisbury and Easton. These two and a half (2 1/2) hour workshops “Exploring Entrepreneurship” will include a discussion of why the individuals wants to start their own small businesses, characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, an overview of the 11 week training program, and an entrepreneurship self assessment. The session for Easton will be held on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the DLLR Workforce Development Center at 301 Bay Street and the session for Salisbury will be held at the Chamber Foundation Training Center on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at 317 Lemmon Hill Lane.
The second phase will consist of a one hour assessment conducted either telephonically or in person to determine eligibility for the 3rd phase, Project Opportunity Business Boot Camp, the entrepreneurship training program for veterans who were selected based on the assessment results.
The Business Boot Camp training will take eleven weeks and be held in between two locations; five at the Talbot County Community Center on Route 50 in Easton and five sessions at the Chamber Foundation Training Center on 317 Lemmon Hill Lane in Salisbury. These classes will total thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction, 3 hours per week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, September 7, 2011, and ending on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. A formal graduation ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Business Center.
The following topics will be addressed over the course of the eleven weeks:
§ Week 1 – Assessing Your Business Idea and Business Planning
§ Week 2 – The Marketing Plan and Marketing Analysis
§ Week 3 – Product, Price, Placement, and Promotion
§ Week 4 – Where is the Cash and Managing Money
§ Week 5 – Financial Tips and Tools
§ Week 6 – Selling Success and Networking
§ Week 7 – Business Entities, Accounting Practices, and Government Oversight
§ Week 8 – Management
§ Week 9 – Web Sites and Social Media
§ Week 10 – Overview of Opportunities Available to Veteran Owned Businesses
§ Week 11 – Presentation of Business Concept and Graduation Ceremony
This program is being offered by the SACC Foundation in partnership with Maryland Capital Enterprises and in 2011 funding is also being provided by the, American Legion Wicomico No. Post 64, Bank of America Foundation, BB&T, VFW Meuse Post 194, VFW Post 8276, and is supported by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Grant Agreement through a grant to the Rural Development Center, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
JULY 2011 WMDT "GOOD MORNING DELMARVA" PROJECT OPPORTUNITY INTERVIEW (Click to view)
A great opportunity for veterans to start their own business in 2011.
“Project Opportunity” is a series of workshops planned to provide veterans with assistance in starting their own businesses. The first phase of Project Opportunity is to conduct outreach and educational sessions in Salisbury and Easton. These two and a half (2 1/2) hour workshops “Exploring Entrepreneurship” will include a discussion of why the individuals wants to start their own small businesses, characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, an overview of the 11 week training program, and an entrepreneurship self assessment. The session for Easton will be held on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the DLLR Workforce Development Center at 301 Bay Street and the session for Salisbury will be held at the Chamber Foundation Training Center on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at 317 Lemmon Hill Lane.
The second phase will consist of a one hour assessment conducted either telephonically or in person to determine eligibility for the 3rd phase, Project Opportunity Business Boot Camp, the entrepreneurship training program for veterans who were selected based on the assessment results.
The Business Boot Camp training will take eleven weeks and be held in between two locations; five at the Talbot County Community Center on Route 50 in Easton and five sessions at the Chamber Foundation Training Center on 317 Lemmon Hill Lane in Salisbury. These classes will total thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction, 3 hours per week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting Wednesday, September 7, 2011, and ending on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. A formal graduation ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Business Center.
The following topics will be addressed over the course of the eleven weeks:
§ Week 1 – Assessing Your Business Idea and Business Planning
§ Week 2 – The Marketing Plan and Marketing Analysis
§ Week 3 – Product, Price, Placement, and Promotion
§ Week 4 – Where is the Cash and Managing Money
§ Week 5 – Financial Tips and Tools
§ Week 6 – Selling Success and Networking
§ Week 7 – Business Entities, Accounting Practices, and Government Oversight
§ Week 8 – Management
§ Week 9 – Web Sites and Social Media
§ Week 10 – Overview of Opportunities Available to Veteran Owned Businesses
§ Week 11 – Presentation of Business Concept and Graduation Ceremony
This program is being offered by the SACC Foundation in partnership with Maryland Capital Enterprises and in 2011 funding is also being provided by the, American Legion Wicomico No. Post 64, Bank of America Foundation, BB&T, VFW Meuse Post 194, VFW Post 8276, and is supported by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Grant Agreement through a grant to the Rural Development Center, University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
JULY 2011 WMDT "GOOD MORNING DELMARVA" PROJECT OPPORTUNITY INTERVIEW (Click to view)
2010 PROJECT OPPORTUNITY GRADUATION HELD
On Wednesday evening, December 15, 2010, the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted a graduation ceremony for 13 veterans who completed Project Opportunity. Project Opportunity is a program providing military veterans the skills to become entrepreneurs through an eleven-week series of workshops. The Chamber Foundation partnered with Maryland Capital Enterprises to provide these free education and outreach services with technical assistance and financing opportunities.
The classes included the following topics; personal budget and credit, types of businesses and customer characteristics, an outline of a business and marketing plan, how to manage your business, and marketing analysis and e-commerce. A number of guest speakers provided the expertise of their skills and industry services to the veterans, including successful business owners, attorneys, accountants, insurance agents, bank representatives, and marketing specialists. The Rotary Club of Salisbury helped provide speakers and mentors. Joe Giordano, Chamber Foundation Workforce Development Coordinator and Kristen Bacon from Maryland Capital Enterprises lead the workshops and worked directly with the participants from week to week.
Jock McNair, Marketing Director of Bordeleau Vineyards & Winery, served as the guest speaker for the graduation ceremony, which was attended by family members, corporate sponsors, board members of the two organizations and other interested parties. Certificates of Completion were issued each veteran and special recognition was provided to the financial sponsors of the program. The ceremony was followed by a time for refreshments and social networking.
We would like to extend a big thank you to the following businesses and organizations that provided financial support for the project: M&T Charitable Foundation, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, Bank of America Foundation, Rural Development Center at UMES (Maryland Hawk Corp.), BB&T Bank, American Legion Wicomico Post No 64, and the Crisfield Elks Lodge #1044.
PROJECT OPPORTUNITY GRADUATES & INSTRUCTORS
