The Flory Small Business Center, Inc. continues to offer free monthly workshops to entrepreneurs that are in the start-up phase of their business. The center is pleased to announce that their Start Up Workshops are being utilized by a substantial number of students from Stratford University’s Woodbridge Campus along with residents of Prince William County, the Cities of Manassas Park and Manassas, as well as surrounding counties.
Last summer, Dr. L. Paulette Jordan, Manager of Military Outreach for Stratford, initiated contact with the Flory Center to enroll many of Stratford’s MBA students in the Center’s Start Up Workshop. The collaboration was an immediate success and Stratford students have continued to participate in the workshops. Most recently, a number of students from Stratford’s MBA program, International Hospitality Management, and Healthcare Administration programs took advantage of the Flory Center’s February workshop to consider whether or not opening a small business might be right for them. They were joined by Stratford professor Dr. Stephen T. Redmon who views the workshop as a hidden gem of Prince William County.
“The Flory Business Center program provides an essential first step for any small business. I have researched top business development programs across the nation and the Flory Center is clearly one of the best. We are blessed to have this great world class resource in Prince William County,” stated attorney Dr. Stephen Redmon after attending the February workshop.
Stratford University, a Virginia public benefit corporation, is a U.S. higher educational institution founded in 1976. Stratford specializes in adult education, provides placement assistance for students and graduates, and offers degrees through the doctoral level. It delivers online, classroom, and blended online and classroom programs. Michael Schmitz, a student in the MBA and Business Administration Program was also in attendance at the most recent workshop and spoke highly of the Flory Center President and leader of the workshop, Linda Decker.
Michael Schmitz went on to state, “Ms. Linda Decker of the Flory Center shed light on some very useful tools with regard to start-up businesses. Her depth and breadth of experience with the SBA provides a good basis to be a mentor. […]The Flory Center, Ms. Decker and her lovely team make it one of a kind and I would be honored to work with them any way I can.”
Stratford University is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia and has Virginia campuses in Woodbridge, Falls Church, and Alexandria as well as locations in Maryland. The majority of the student body is non-traditional and works full-time while attending school. Stratford’s international student body is diverse and represents over thirty countries.
The next Flory Start-Up workshop will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 9:00am until 1:00pm in Manassas. A light, continental breakfast is available at 8:30am. The same workshop will also be offered on Saturday, April 23, 2016 and Saturday, May 14, 2016. Attendance is free of charge but pre-registration is required to insure adequate materials. Call the Flory Center to pre-register – 703-335-2500.
The Flory Small Business Center, Inc. was created by the Prince William County Industrial Development Authority in 1991 as “economic gardening” program and the IDA continues to provide over 50% of the Center’s funding with non-taxpayer dollars. Economic gardening fosters the idea that economies can be grown locally by local entrepreneurs. The Center’s 25 year old program is based on the needs and requests of the small businesses they serve and is recipient of state and national awards.
The Flory Center is funded by Prince William County, the Prince William County Industrial Development Authority, and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. Mrs. Decker points out that local entrepreneurs are fortunate that our jurisdictions are committed to assisting the potential “start-up” as well as the existing small business owner. The Flory Center works with referrals from organizations such as banks and elected officials who understand what they do and want to insure that small businesses have access to the information and resources that they need to start, grow, and thrive. The Flory Center has been a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration since inception. For more information, contact the Flory Small Business Center, Inc. at 703-335-2500 or by email at [email protected].
This post is written by the Flory Small Business Center.
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