By Emily Randall
Northeast News
Jan. 27, 2010

A business-training program with 16 years worth of success stories is coming to Northeast to help low-income entrepreneurs start businesses.

The 12-week course, called First Step Fast Track, will be sponsored by Bishop Sullivan Center. Judy Bumpus, of Bloom Business Consulting, explained the course helps people who have an idea to start a very small business or people who already own one but don’t have business training.

“They need to be expanding or wanting to start a business,” she said. “We are really targeting people in the Northeast — as many low- to moderate-income people [as possible].”

She said Northeast was the perfect area to conduct the class because of the multitude of storefronts and existing small businesses that might need assistance.

“When you go through Northeast, there are businesses everywhere,” she said.

After 16 years, the not-for-profit organization First Step Fund, which ran the program, closed this past December. The curriculum for the Fast Track course, however, is still under Kauffman Foundation ownership, and with sponsorship from Bishop Sullivan Center, plus space from Saint Paul School of Theology, the course is available once again.

“When it closed, we wanted to continue to allow the opportunity for people because it was the only [program] targeted to [low- to moderate-income people],” Bumpus said.

Through the course, potential entrepreneurs will create a feasibility plan and decide whether their idea is right for them. The course takes people through looking at communicating a business concept, doing market analysis, financial planning and future action plans.

“Lots of people in business, especially microentrepreneurs, don’t have a business plan,” Bumpus said. “They haven’t really looked at all the aspects.”

In the past, several home-based businesses, restaurants, day cares, beauty shops, and a wide variety of service businesses have come out of the Fast Track Fund. There have been a few large businesses, but Bumpus said in general these business owners are looking to boost their income — not make a million dollars. In all, more than 150 business owners in the Kansas City area have gone through the training.

“I think that everyone who has gone through the course has benefited greatly,” Bumpus said. “They get more employment skills. Many of our graduates increase their household incomes. Even if they decide not to open a business, they receive lots of benefits.”

The cost to take the class will be determined on a sliding income scale, starting at $55.

The course will begin meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20. It will take place from 6-9 p.m. every following Tuesday through April 27 at Saint Paul School of Theology, 5123 E. Truman Road. There will be two orientation meetings for those interested in the program on Tuesdays, Feb. 2 and 9 at the school.

For more information, contact Bumpus at (816) 786-3959.