St. Louis, September 9, 2010 - St. Louis County Economic Council hosted a small business workshop yesterday at one of its five small business incubators - St. Louis Enterprise Centers-West County. The free seminar, which was geared toward the 225 applicants who submitted their business plans to the recent 2010 Regional Business Plan Competition, offered advice on how to develop their business.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley welcomed the group and encouraged them to take advantage of the many resources the County has established to help small business succeed.
"Small business churns our economy by creating jobs and investment, and St. Louis County wants you to succeed," said Dooley. "Not only does small business comprise the majority of our jobs but their generosity in giving back to the community is tremendous."
The Business Plan Competition's first place winner, Ed Timm, president & CEO, of Mobius Therapeutics, LLC discussed the importance of having a strong business plan and highlighted the key components of a winning plan such as a market analysis, sales and marketing strategies, business model, and operations plan. Timm also emphasized the importance of understanding their market and what sets their business apart from the competition.
A variety of small business service providers offered one-on-one advice to each entrepreneur. These organizations included: AAIM, Innovate St. Louis, Small Business Administration, Small Business & Technology Development Centers, SCORE, St. Louis Enterprise Centers, and True North Group.
"I may not have won the business plan competition, but I did win by gaining all kinds of critical business advice that will help me take my business to the next level," said entrepreneur Larry Crain of Innovation Development Enterprises of America.
St. Louis County will be hosting another regional business plan competition later this fall, inviting past applicants and others the chance to win $50,000, $30,000 or $20,000. |
