(WARSAW, NY) The possibility of starting your own business became a reality on October 31, 2023, for eight graduates along with their business partners of the Wyoming County Business Fast Track Program, a business development program for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs.
The graduates bring a variety of innovative business concepts to Wyoming County including a coffee shop with a pug play lounge, an event planning and party rental business, a specialized railroad safety device, a vehicle detailing service, a professional photographer, unique customized gifts, residential and commercial cleaning service, and a mobile phlebotomy service.
“These graduates spent the past 10 weeks developing their concepts and visions through each step of the business planning process. Through the class they have built powerful lifetime networks with one another,” said Jennifer Tyczka, program manager. “With our small business resources available they can continue to grow with low-interest financing, receive additional technical assistance, and have access to Wyoming County’s business support network.”
In collaboration with the Wyoming County Business Education Council, the Wyoming County Business Center provided Landon Nickerson, a Warsaw Central High School graduate, and future business leader, the opportunity to attend the Wyoming County Business Fast Track Program with a full scholarship.
The new graduates completed 10 fast-paced and challenging entrepreneurship classes delivered over a 10-week period that covered a wide variety of topics which included; analyzing the feasibility of the business concept, assessing the marketplace, projecting financials, sales and marketing, operations and management, and business legal matters. They developed their business plans in an interactive group environment where they built a unique network with one another.
The Wyoming County Business Center is an affiliate of the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac program and offers the customized Wyoming County Business Fast Track Program. This program features engaging online content plus the comprehensive Entrepreneur’s Manual to arm participants with the resources and confidence needed to complete and implement their business plans. Guest speakers are featured throughout the program to share their specific areas of expertise. The classes, which are intentionally kept small in size to personally engage each participant, are facilitated by two local experienced entrepreneurs Jeff Fitch and Mike Fitch.
“I’m very impressed to see the level of qualifications of our microloan-financing applicants who are former Fast Track graduates,” said Jim Pierce, President of the Wyoming County Business Center. “There’s a real benefit to going through an in-depth business planning process and targeted entrepreneurship training before obtaining business financing. This is evident when we look at many of the successful Fast Track graduate businesses who continue to operate years after obtaining a business startup loan from the Wyoming County Business Center,” noted Pierce.
The next cycle of training will begin on March 26, 2024, at the Ag & Business Center in Warsaw. Sessions are held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays over 10 weeks.
The Wyoming County Business Center Board of Directors and the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors support the Wyoming County Business Fast Track Program, recognizing that entrepreneurship and new business startups are a primary source of job growth for Wyoming County. The program is graciously sponsored by Tompkins Community Bank, Complete Payroll, Robert D. Strassel Esq., Five Star Bank, Community Bank N.A., and the workforce development resources available to participants through Community Action for Wyoming County.
To learn more about the Wyoming County Business Fast Track Program or to register for the spring class visit wycoida.org or contact Jennifer Tyczka at the Wyoming County Business Center at (585) 786-3764 or email jtyczka@wycoida.org. Registration is now open and seats are limited.
Wyoming County Business Center Entrepreneur Scholarship
Jim Pierce, President of the Wyoming County Business Center with Landon Nickerson recipient of the Wyoming County Business Center Entrepreneur Scholarship.
