New entrepreneurial training program set to launch
Community Futures Centra Alberta, in partnership with the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN), is launching a new program for entrepreneurs in the community to provide residents with access to business training and mentorship support.
The purpose of the SMARTstart program, according to officials, is to provide real-world business skills, access to tailor-made advice, and to create a support network to increase the chance of new businesses surviving those first crucial years.
Over the past seven years, SMARTstart has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs in communities throughout Alberta launch or expand their business ideas.
Officials note small businesses face the challenge of simply making it beyond the three to five-year mark at only a 35 per cent success rate. But with proper training and resources, 80-90 per cent of those businesses are expected to succeed beyond five years.