EDASC’s Entrepreneur Program
In partnership with the Washington Employment Security Department we are pleased to present EDASC’s Entrepreneur Program. This innovative program is another way that EDASC is working to enhance Skagit County's quality of life through the creation and preservation of healthy businesses and good jobs.

The Entrepreneur Program is an individually designed effort to help you get your business going. The program brings together the very best of EDASC’s resources: the flexibility of adding in external resources and the assurance that while you are active in the program your unemployment benefits will continue under Employment Security’s Self Employment Assistance Program.

A single monthly fee of $100 includes one-on-one business counseling, technical assistance, educational sessions and workgroups to build your knowledge. The program begins with creating your unique work plan and ends with you having a business plan, marketing plan, cash flow projections, web site and e-mail, assistance in locating financing and other necessary knowledge and materials.

Entrepreneur Program participants are expected to do the following to remain in the program:

• Attend a minimum of one Brown Bag Lunch Series session per month
• Maintain the agreed upon schedule for completion of various components for the proposed business; including the business plan and marketing plan.
• Provide updates of progress every other week at a minimum
• Utilize technical assistance and counseling as needed

Typical Sequence which is customized for each participant.

1. You contact EDASC and participate in a 60 to 90 minute informational session where we will evaluate your business concept, resources and overall commitment to starting a business. After this we will create an agreement defining what your program will look like including timelines, deliverables and identifying any external coursework required. EDASC works closely with each client allowing for external training of high quality from various providers that add significant value to the proposed business if necessary.
2. EDASC submits completed form to Employment Security for authorization which takes approximately six weeks.
3. Client begins to immediately utilize services. Within 3 weeks you will attend a grounding session introducing business plans, financing and entity formation – this is held the second Tuesday of each month.
4. Create your business plan with support from EDASC staff during the next six weeks. Typical plans are reviewed 5 to 6 times before they are considered to be at par level.
5. Create your marketing plan in the next two weeks.
6. Use the following two weeks to obtain all business licenses, permits or other necessary documents.
7. Develop your web site and e-mail that reflects a professional business. EDASC provides supports and referrals as necessary to ensure a polished end-product.
8. During the next four to eight weeks obtain all financing, if needed. EDASC develops materials necessary for financial institutions, provides referrals and offers any necessary assistance.

Throughout this process you may attend a wide selection of 90 minute to 4 hour education session on a variety of topics aimed at business owners and managers. To see a current list of courses offered click on the Classes/Seminar button to your left. These sessions are included in the monthly service fee.

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