Published: Oct 4, 2020
The Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership’s Power Plant Business Incubator (PPBI) is pleased to announce the graduation of 13 entrepreneurs and business owners from the pilot FastTrac business certificate class.
FastTrac is a course facilitated by certified CEP staff members, designed by the Kauffman Foundation, which equips entrepreneurs with the business skills, insights, tools, and peer networks to start and/or grow a successful business. The eight-week class focused on finance, marketing, competition, risk management, and contracting.
“FastTrac is a structured, short-term opportunity for entrepreneurs who desire to start a business. While developing a plan for business, they acquire skills to help lay a solid foundation for proposed ventures. The course is also designed for those already in operation who seek strategies to grow a sustainable small business. Future cohorts will be open to entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Marion County,” according the Cherrietta Prince, CEP Director of Entrepreneurship Services.
The graduating class is the first of 2020, with two more classes planned for this year. All participants of the pilot class owned businesses that were operational for at least one year. Businesses ranged from health care, to real estate, to insurance, and childcare.
“We are so proud of this first cohort of FastTrac graduates. They each have inspiring stories behind their entrepreneurial journeys,” said Ryan Lilly, CEP VP of Business Creation, “We believe they will go-on to become some of the most successful small businesses in the area,”
The Power Plant Business Incubator is expanding the resources available to entrepreneurs to guarantee business success. Businesses do not have to be a PPBI resident to participate in FastTrac. The classes are part of a larger initiative, IMPACT, which is focused on helping minority business owners.
Information on all of the CEP’s initiatives, including FastTrac, is available at www.OcalaCEP.com