Community Business Academy
An experiential and interactive learning program designed for the entrepreneur and small business owner who wants to build strong foundations of success for their business.
Starting and running a business can be challenging and overwhelming.
The Greater Freeport Partnership Community Business Academy is designed for current and prospective owners of small businesses to develop the skills and knowledge base to build a solid foundation for success of their businesses.
The Partnership knows that helping to create and support a strong entrepreneurial environment is an important way to support the economic vitality and growth of Freeport and Stephenson County.
Register for an information session
Info sessions are mandatory for participation in the community business academy.
Wednesday, July 20 at 6 pm, virtual – Register Here
Tuesday, August 9 at 6 pm, virtual – Register Here
Knowledge of financials, legal structures, insurance and more to safeguard a new business
A network of support and accountability
Business plan development to use as a roadmap to attract funders
Tools to get you started on a new business venturemap to attract funders
Timeline of Courses
Info sessions are mandatory for participation in the community business academy
-
- July 20, 6 pm, virtual meeting
- August 9, 6 pm, virtual meeting
- August 19: CBA Applications are due.
- August 30: Acceptance to the CBA sent to participants.
- September 6: CBA Orientation/Kick-off Event in-person at the Partnership office, 6 pm (110 W. Main Street Freeport).
- September 13: Academy begins, held virtually, 6-9 pm
- September 20: Academy session
- September 27: Academy session
- October 4: Academy session
- Checkpoint – Optional homework help, exact date TBD
- October 11: Academy session
- October 18: Academy session
- October 25: Academy session
- November 1: Academy session
- Checkpoint – Optional homework help, exact date TBD
- November 8: Academy session
- November 15: Academy session
- November 29: Academy session
- December 6: Academy session (final class)
- December 13: Academy Graduation (participation optional, but encouraged)
Key Industries
Calendar Feed
Blog Feed
MVP: Membership Value Proposition April 23, 2024 Freeport, greater freeport partnership, olivo taco, Stephenson County When you decide to become a member or investor of the Greater Freeport Partnership, we understand that a value calculation is made. Is the cost of membership equal to or less than the value you get from being a member and supporting the work that we do at the Partnership? Because we understand that, we work hard to provide value […]
A Leadership Lesson from an Eclipse April 22, 2024 Yesterday at 3:26 pm, my city experienced a 97% solar eclipse. In other words, we were just off-center from the path of totality. I ventured outside at 3:15 p.m. with my eclipse viewer. My dog ran around the backyard. Across the street, a neighbor had 20 people at their house for a joint birthday and eclipse party. And I noticed […]
Exposure to Manufacturing April 18, 2024 Freeport, greater freeport partnership, Manufacturing, Stephenson County It is human nature to gravitate towards the familiar. That holds true for high school students. They will frequently choose careers or educational pathways aligned to future careers based on their exposure to that career. So how do we expose more students to the varied manufacturing careers available locally? That was the most prominent conversation thread at our recent Manufacturing […]
Stephenson County Home Show – April 20 April 18, 2024 Participating Vendors include: Acri Company PO. Box 737 Milan, IL 61264 (309) 787-3580 cfilali@acricompany.com Affordable Water 214 W. Menomonie St. Belvidere, IL 61008 (815) 544-1021 affordablewater.durham@gmail.com Bader Construction 1506 S. Oak Ave. Freeport, IL 61032 (815) 821-5733 Bath Planet 7111 N. Alpine Rd. Loves Park, IL 61111 (815) 205-0049 aileen@bathplanetlocal.com Bowen’s Carpet Dry 108 2nd Ave. […]