Free Small Business Development Acadamy Open to Wilton Business Owners

The Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its annual Small Business Development Academy will begin at the end of September.

The eight-week course will address the basics of starting and sustaining a small business. This well-established, respected program is free and open to all, made possible by the generous sponsorship of First Niagara Bank. Topics will include: creating a business plan; obtaining financing; bookkeeping and taxes; customer service; insurance considerations; marketing and much more.

The kickoff session will be Tuesday, September 29, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at The Norwalk Inn & Conference Center, located at 99 East Avenue. The session will feature words of wisdom and inspiration from David Lewis, President, CEO and Founder of OperationsInc, the state’s largest Human Resources outsourcing and consulting firm, specializing in support for small-to-mid-sized businesses.

Since starting the company in 2001, the firm has experienced steady growth and now engages over 40 HR professionals in support of a base of more than 1,200 clients. David is also the President and CEO of AllCountyJobs.com, the state’s largest job board network.

First Niagara Bank is serving as both the sole sponsor of the series, and as a program partner. Leadership from the bank will be directly participating in several of the sessions, sharing their knowledge and expertise of the small business market with our audience.

“First Niagara recognizes the benefit a program like this can have on someone who is just starting out in the small business world,” said Robert Cerminaro, SVP and Tristate Region Market Executive for First Niagara Bank. “We are proud to sponsor this series for the third year, and hope that by helping owners understand the fundamentals of starting and maintaining a small business, we can contribute to the strength and vitality of our local economies.”

The sessions will continue for the next six consecutive Tuesdays, all 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at The Norwalk Inn. The program will culminate with a graduation reception and ceremony on Tuesday, November 17th, at which time certificates will be presented to those who have completed the program.

To register for this FREE program, please contact the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce at (203) 866-2521, email info@norwalkchamberofcommerce.com, or register online at www.norwalkchamberofcommerce.com.