EMCC Class Helps New Businesses Save Time

DEKALB, MS – Making it easier for entrepreneurs to grow new businesses in Kemper County is the goal of a new East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) class.

“I wish I had done this [course] before I started my business,” said June Aust, owner of The Hollow Log Gift Shop in DeKalb.  “I could have saved myself a lot of time and extra steps. Everyone who wants to start a business needs this course and, thanks to EMCC, it is available in Kemper County.”

EMCC, working through the WAEM Regional Initiative has begun offering “How to Start and Run a Business,” at the college’s Scooba campus.  Eight students enrolled in the 12-week course, which began in mid-October.

“We have students who believe that they can make a difference in their community by starting and running a business in DeKalb, the county seat of Kemper County,” said Bruce Hanson, WAEM staff member at EMCC and the course instructor. 

Class members include potential entrepreneurs as well as existing business owners who want to learn how to more effectively run their companies.   “We have students who already are running a restaurant, a gift shop and others who plan to operate a Bed and Breakfast and a bakery,” said Hanson.

Plans for a new hospital from Rush Health Systems and a $2.2 billion lignite coal power generation plant from Mississippi Power Company have created a “boom” psychology in Kemper County…an attitude conducive to entrepreneurship.  “There is a great amount of interest,” said Hanson.  “We have received many phone calls asking about the next class start date and have already signed up nine students.”

The innovative curriculum for this course was developed by Dr. Brent Hales of the Trent Lott National Center of Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern Mississippi.  The instruction provides students with practical basic tools of how to start and run a business.  Developing a business plan and coaching of the students is an essential part of the course. 

 “Entrepreneurship should be taught in schools and colleges,” said Dr. Hales. “It is vital to expose students to business opportunities.  Too many brilliant business-minded young people are leaving the state; we have to train them to reverse that trend and increase opportunities for them to stay here.”

EMCC will also offer the class at its Golden Triangle Campus in 2010.