Last month, Central Ohio residents nominated forty-eight (48) micro entrepreneurs for the Eighth Annual Micro Entrepreneur Awards.  This premiere event recognizes micro entrepreneurs, business owners of five or fewer employees, for bringing innovative products and services to the public and stimulating the economy.  For these reasons, INCREASE CDC is honored to recognize this outstanding group of visionaries.

Nominees provide information about their companies to a panel of distinguished judges who then select seven award recipients.  This year’s judges are Kimberly Gayle of Executive Intervention, Jerry King of ABBA Enterprises Unlimited, Inc., Megan McAlister of Commerce National Bank, and Anthony Redic of A Redic Consulting.

In addition to the seven awards selected by the judges, the Community Choice award will be given to the nominee who receives the most votes through an online voting process.  Graduates of the INCREASE CDC business planning program will also be recognized at the event for demonstrating success.

Central Ohio can show its support by casting their online votes between March 26^th and April 6^th at www.increasecdc.org/awards.  The community can also attend the Micro Entrepreneur Awards on Thursday, April 19^th at Columbus Christian Center Church, 2300 N. Cassady Avenue.  The awards ceremony is open to the public and is free to attend.  Tickets for the networking reception are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.  Visit www.increasecdc.org/awards to register for the reception and take advantage of early bird pricing. 

For more information on the Micro Entrepreneur Awards or to leverage sponsorship and marketing opportunities, please contact INCREASE CDC at (614) 476-1758.

On February 22, 2012, INCREASE CDC effectively partnered with the Columbus Urban League (CUL) to deliver a business program to CUL clients.

Curtland Caffey, Associate Director of INCREASE CDC, says "This [partnership] is value-added for both organizations. We are a community development company that is very passionate about helping entrepreneurs start and sustain businesses.  The Columbus Urban League has a customer base, which very well may be open to our message of  entrepreneurship."

Kesha Garrett, of the CUL, says "It's a good fit for us. We have the clients, and they [INCREASE CDC] have a message we want our clients to hear.

INCREASE CDC has delivered two information sessions in February and March with immediate plans to deliver more.   Aspiring entrepreneurs who are not clients of CUL can attend a How to Start a Business information session at local libraries. 

More information on library locations/dates/times is available at www.increasecdc.org.

This month at the INCREASE Community Business Network (ICBN) luncheon, Anthony Trotman, Director of Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services (FCDJFS) highlighted two programs that allow businesses to add employees without adding salary costs. 

The Ohio Work Force (OWF) and the Work Experience Program (WEP) are state-funded initiatives aimed at putting Central Ohioans back to work.  Business owners who sponsor OWF or WEP can utilize the programs’ participants as employees without having to pay their wages.  These participants are paid by the state through cash assistance or other government funded programs.  If business owners eventually hire a program participant, they can receive up to $9,000 in tax credits.  Director Trotman says, “Both programs are good for everyone.  Entrepreneurs win, program participants win, and ultimately the state wins.”

For more information on how to partner with the FCDJFS and utilize either program, visit www.ohioworksfirstfc.org.