In addition to offering advising services and facilities, the Hub offers the FastTrac® program as its premier educational tool. FastTrac®, developed and endorsed by the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri, is a practical, hands-on business development program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow a successful business.
FastTrac® NewVenture™In FastTrac® NewVenture™, you will write a feasibility plan on your venture’s strengths and weaknesses, examining your idea from every angle. You will also work closely with other aspiring entrepreneurs sharing ideas and strategies, and laying the groundwork for future business relationships. The Course Outline for FastTrac® NewVenture™ includes the following:
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FastTrac® GrowthVenture™In FastTrac® GrowthVenture™, you will hone business skills that you will use to shape and grow your business for years to come. The Course Outline for FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ includes the following:
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Featured FastTrac® Graduates
Kurt Andrzejczyk, Owner, A & E Air, Inc.
Barrett Collins, CEO, Bluffton Brittle
Adrienne Edge, Owner, Tummy Time Foods
Lori Gantt, Owner, Blue Water Boutique
Louise Hodges, Owner, Green Bug All Natural Pest Control
Anita Singleton Prather, ASE–Gullah Education, LLC
Jill Weaver, Owner, Personalized Solutions
Silvia Williams, President and CEO, Align Education Consultants
On May 5, 2009 the first Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL)/Hub-sponsored FastTrac® class graduated with excellent assessments. The very positive feedback from participants earned the Hub a front-page story in a local publication, The Bluffton Sun – June 16, 2009, Volume 12, Issue 12, “Entrepreneurs learn ins, outs of owning a business.” Through December 2010 more than 162 entrepreneurs/small businesses have successfully completed FastTrac® training and worked to complete their business plans, thereby increasing their odds for business success and the preservation/creation of employment in the Lowcountry small business community. All four Lowcountry counties (Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper) have been represented in the graduating classes. The Technical College of the Lowcountry/Hub FastTrac® program is the most active in the state of South Carolina, having conducted 11 classes. In October, a “Lowcountry FastTrac® Reunion” hosted more than 70 participants who evaluated the program at 93% excellent/very good. 100% said they would recommend FastTrac® to other entrepreneurs and small businesses. Review the full report.
To find out more about the FastTrac® program, contact the Small Business Hub at 843.645.1992, visit the national FastTrac® website or the South Carolina FastTrac® website.
