The Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the initiation of the successful Entrepreneurial Pathways Program (EPP). The EPP, started in 2006 by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, will be functioning as a virtual business incubator supporting first or second stage entrepreneurial companies that are either currently operating or initiating operations in Healdsburg.
The services to be provided will include mentoring, coaching, technical advising, education, financial planning and introductions to potential investors, partners, customers and service providers. What distinguishes the EPP from other business mentoring programs is that the EPP can call on a vast array of business professionals, in all aspects of business, from among the 750 Healdsburg Chamber members to provide the necessary expertise. Many EPP companies in the Santa Rosa area have also gone on to make presentations at the award winning North Bay Growth & Innovation Forum as well as other investor venues, resulting in investment funding. The Healdsburg EPP participants will have the opportunity to participate in the forum.
The mission of the Healdsburg EPP is to:
• Create high-wage jobs through assistance to entrepreneurial companies in Healdsburg.
• Provide management assistance, mentoring, coaching, technical assistance, education and support networks that enable entrepreneurial companies to succeed and prosper.
• Provide additional sales tax revenue for the City.
The Healdsburg EPP will collaborate with the Santa Rosa in producing events of common interest, building community awareness of the programs, seeking regional grants and sharing best practices. As an added value for your Healdsburg Chamber membership there will be no charge to participating businesses in the EPP. Herb Liberman, Economic Development Coordinator for the Chamber will be managing this important program.
Complementing the EPP will be an aggressive business attraction program. We will utilize a new web site exclusively for business attraction and also use the brochure and video that has already been developed. The EPP program will be used as a marketing tool to encourage start ups to consider establishing its business in Healdsburg.
Within the next two months, the program will be rolled out with a formal process for companies to apply for participation in the EPP and the identification of business leaders in Healdsburg to serve as mentors and coaches.
For additional information regarding the EPP program or if you would like to volunteer as a mentor or coach, please contact Herb Liberman at herb@healdsburg.com or (707) 318-3101.
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