100+ Future Business Owners Learn Success Skills in Lima

More than 100 people in Lima, Ohio gathered online and in person this week to take the first step toward launching their own businesses.

The "VIP: Very Important Planning Small Business Academy" kicked off Tuesday night at Rhodes State College. This free six-week program teaches future business owners everything they need to know, from understanding what it takes to be an entrepreneur to creating winning business plans.

The first session covered the mindset and skills successful entrepreneurs need. Over the next five weeks, instructors will guide students through finances, marketing strategies, and how to analyze potential profits and risks.

By the end of the program, each participant will have crafted their own business plan. That matters because businesses with solid plans are 30% more likely to succeed than those without one.

"Small businesses are the economic engines of our communities, and without small businesses, our communities can't thrive," says Nicole Scott, Director of the Small Business Development Centers at Rhodes State College. "That's one of the reasons why we want to empower success."

The Ripple Effect

The academy does more than just teach business basics. It's creating a pipeline of new entrepreneurs who could transform their community's economic future.

Graduates of the program get an extra opportunity that sweetens the deal. They can enter the PitchFest competition for a chance to win grant funding to launch or grow their business ideas. That means some students could walk away with actual money to make their dreams happen.

The program is still accepting new students, even though classes have started. Anyone interested in joining can call (419) 995-8172 to sign up.

Lima is betting on its future business owners, and they're showing up ready to learn.