Shopping with her mother at Amin Grocery, 4-year-old Nasra Abdullhi is intent on getting her jar of candies opened. Tim Speier / West Central Tribune
Elevating future business owners Program founded to support diverse businesses, entrepreneurs BY TIM SPEIER West Central Tribune
WILLMAR — The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar’s Economic Development Commission began training the second Elevate class of entrepreneurs and local business owners Sept. 16. The 12-week Elevate course offers hands-on training in business planning and management while providing business education and coaching specifically tailored to underserved minority entrepreneurs in the county. The EDC partnered with the Southwest Initiative Foundation in 2017 to design and implement a Business Retention and Expansion Program for diverse businesses after a survey they had funded
found an increasing number of minorityowned businesses opening in and around Willmar. Sarah Swedburg, the EDC’s Business Development Manager, took control of the program after longtime manager Connie Schmoll retired from the EDC in May. Schmoll led the implementation of Willmar’s Elevate program before stepping down. She is currently training to become an Elevate instructor. In order to be accepted into the program, applicants must first attend one of Elevate’s information sessions. “Information sessions are a
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requirement for applying to the class for students,” Swedburg said. “I think they’re also a good opportunity for community members or supporters who have small businesses to understand and get to know a little bit more about Elevate.” If applicants decide that they would like to be considered for the program, they would then fill out the required paperwork on their current business or a business proposal. Swedburg said their target class size would be around 10 students and Elevate estimates the costs of the 12-week program to be around $3,000 per student. That fee was waived for the students
