This month North County Incorporated, in partnership with the St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and U.S. Bank, held Building Blocks for Growing Your Business Workshops. A U.S. Bank Foundation grant provided the funding to make the workshops possible.
“U.S. Bank is committed to fostering economic opportunity in the St. Louis region. North County Incorporated is a key component of growing businesses and the economy of North St. Louis County and beyond. We are proud to support NCI as part of our community development and philanthropic efforts,” said Kathy Siddens, U.S. Bank’s Community Development Regional Manager in St. Louis.
The Building Blocks for Growing Your Business workshops enabled business owners to learn more about the financial skills necessary for growing the operational capacity of their businesses. The business owners also had the opportunity to be paired with a mentor to work with them one on one to help focus on their specific, individual companies’ needs. Workshop classes focused on financial literacy, marketing, and effective sales techniques.
“St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley is so proud to be able to partner with NCI to host their business workshops on our campus. These opportunities are vital for our community members, businesses, and future entrepreneurs, so that we can continue to grow the North County economy. We are also glad to have these workshops on our campus, as we can offer them to our students, and we can show what STLCC-FV has to offer in terms of business education,” said Dr. Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Campus Provost, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley.
“Building partnerships for successful outcomes is what we do well here at NCI. By teaming up with our local chambers of commerce, cities, SLEDP, SCORE, St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, and others we are able to assist our small business owners by providing them with learning opportunities to help their businesses be sustainable long-term,” said Rebecca Zoll, President/CEO of NCI.
“We supported the training to allow Hazelwood’s small business owners to gain skills without a great deal of travel and expense. North County Inc. supports the area’s business community and we are privileged to partner with them,” said David Cox, Economic Development Director, City of Hazelwood.
Certificates of completion were awarded to all business owners who attended.
North County Incorporated is a regional development organization, which acts as a catalyst to define and advocate economic and community development for North St. Louis County. NCI was established in 1977. The Board is composed of community leaders and business owners. Scott Negwer, President of Negwer Materials, Inc., is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Northwest Chamber President Brian Goldman tells businesses how to market themselves for no/low cost.
Business owners learn how to strengthen their financial position.
Ashley Strong (Left) of Lavish and Luxury Hair presented with certificate of completion by NCI’s Evan Maxwell,Building Blocks for Growing Your Business Program Coordinator.
