New Program Provides Training for Entrepreneurs

Thirty Ventura County entrepreneurs are the first small-business owners to receive special training under a $437,850 award from the California Employment Training Panel.

About 350 small-business owners are expected to participate in the program, marketing director Charles Lundberg said.

The new entrepreneurial training program, which is designed to help fledgling businesses with at least one but fewer than 10 full-time employees enhance their competitive positions, went into effect Jan. 1.

“It’s very exciting to kick off this new program and make an award to a group of very small companies that could be on the threshold of success,” Lundberg said. “With this training, they will be better able to grow their businesses and create meaningful new jobs that will benefit all of us.”

The business owners will receive a variety of management training classes, including business planning, excellence in business management, growth through technology and exporting essentials. The 30 firms represent a wide range of companies from auto repair to high technology, and the training will be conducted at various institutions.

The Ventura County companies were recruited by the Ventura County Entrepreneur Academy, which was established in 1994 to serve business owners with one to 50 employees.