MicroBusiness Workshops on East Bay

Free Series Set to Begin May 29^th

The first class in a free 4-part workshop on How To Start & Grow Your Own Business! will be presented at the Burnside Building (400 Hoppe Street, Bristol) beginning on Tuesday, May 29^th from 6:00-8:00pm. The program includes sessions on Marketing Your Products & Services, Developing an Action Business Plan, Financing Your Business, and Growing Your Business. The workshop program includes all class materials and handouts. Light refreshments will be served.

This program is presented and co-sponsored by the Mount Hope Enterprise Zone, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Mosaico Community Development Corporation, and the Rhode Island MicroEnterprise Association. It is free and open to the public.

Classes will meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings, May 29, 31, June 5 and 7 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Registration is available at the Mount Hope Enterprise Zone at 514 Main Street in Warren or online at www.rimicroenterprise.org.

Attendees completing the 4-session course will receive a copy of the best-selling The Plan: A Step-by-Step Business Plan and a Micro-Business Certificate of Completion.

New MicroEnterprise Statistics Released

Rhode Island Tops 84,000 MicroBusinesses!

Rhode Island has more microenterprises than ever according to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The figures, compiled from the latest federal statistics (2004) and reported by the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, showed there were 84,152 microenterprises in Rhode Island. Of these, there are 29,933 businesses with employees. These figures are a 12.2% increase over the 2000 U.S. Census numbers that said Rhode Island had 75,000 microenterprises. Providence County led the way with 44,395 microenterprises, followed by Kent County with 13,632 and Washington County with 12,822. The East Bay had a total of 13,303 microenterprises: Bristol County with 4,672 and Newport County boasting 8,631.  The Rhode Island MicroEnterprise Association offers classes and technical assistance to all of these microentrepreneurs.  

Entrepreneurs Get Training, Motivation & Perpetual Tech Support at the Rhode Island MicroEnterprise Association

Every day, Ann Marie Marshall, State Director of the Rhode Island MicroEnterprise Association, receives phone calls and emails from Rhode Islanders who have inventions, new business ideas, and dreams to create a better life for themselves with their skills and talents.  Marshall, founding director of this statewide non-profit, knows the challenges new entrepreneurs face.  She is herself an entrepreneur who has operated Block Island University (BlockIslandU.com), an island clothing business, for more than a decade.

Through a network of community partnerships throughout the state, Marshall’s association offers new and growing business owners microbusiness training programs, guerrilla marketing workshops, and classes in financial literacy. Education programs are offered in four languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Creole) and at more than 20 sites in 15 communities. Attendees have come from all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island representing more than 40 different nationalities.

Special workshop programs are also offered each year for artists (Making A Living Making Art!), farmers (New Entry Farmers Training Program), and retailers (Newport Retail Institute). 

On September 25, 2007, the Association will host the 5th Annual Rhode Island MicroEnterprise Day.  The Association is the statewide leader for the national EntrepreneurshipWeek USA being celebrated February 24 through March 3, 2007 and will coordinate interviews and special events with entrepreneurial business owners.  

“The MicroEnterprise Association’s mission is to provide the education and coaching new entrepreneurs need to succeed,” says Marshall.  “We now offer one-year association memberships to new entrepreneurs, owners of growing businesses, and experienced business mentors.  Membership is just $95.”

 “Mentors, who include bankers, accountants, and experienced owners, are paired with new entrepreneurs to share their experiences and advice to help them accelerate the growth of their new businesses.  Four times a year we offer our unique Network & Getwork^TM program that is all about helping our members boost their sales.  Membership includes one-on-one business counseling, a monthly newsletter, access to our entrepreneurship library, and the mentor program. We want all of our entrepreneurs to make more money, become more successful, and have more fun!”

Both experienced and budding entrepreneurs can access membership information and forms along with other business information on the Association’s web site at www.RIMicroEnterprise.org.

UPCOMING FREE CLASSES:  Sales Growth Workshop 2007: Tuesday, April 24, 9-10am; Sales Growth Workshop 2007: Tuesday, May 1, 9-10am; Sales Growth Workshop 2007: Tuesday, May 8, 9-10am; Sales Growth Workshop 2007: Tuesday, May 15, 9-10am.

Leading the Future of Entrepreneurship!
Back To News Page