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Natural Awakenings Naples and Fort Myers

Emerging Entrepreneurs Apply Now

Individuals that need mentoring for starting up a business are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, a six-week training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new ventures and grow small businesses.


Scheduled for June 20 through July 28, graduates complete a comprehensive training course and prepare a solid plan to guide their start-up. Working with mentors that are successful businesspeople, participants also hear from subject matter experts in areas of accounting, legal, marketing, insurance and funding. An easy-to-use workbook used by organizations across America assists in transforming vision into a plan for a successful business.


According to Debra Donatto, Goodwill Industries of SWFL director of communications, a recent program graduate commented, “This course helped me to organize and plan out the steps for creating my business. Coming in, I had no idea how to start a business that would lead to success, and now I have that.”


The Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute is a program offered by nonprofit Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and is part of Goodwill’s mission of providing life-changing opportunities toward independence for those with disabilities and disadvantages.


Cost is $80. Volunteer hours can be substituted for the fee if income requirements are met. Classes meet on Mon. and Thu. from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hodges University, located at 4501 Colonial Blvd., in Fort Myers. To apply, visit GoodwillSwfl.org/Microenterprise or call 239-995-2106, ext. 2215. For more information, email Annette Watkins at [email protected]. For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit GoodwillSWFL.org.