Cornerstone Alliance' Women's Business Center launches Business Plan Certification program

A new opportunity for startup and established businesses is launching by The Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance.The first Business Plan certification program, set to begin in January 2025, is designed for women and individuals who are economically disadvantaged and seeking support with their business plans.

Chrissy Meeks, Manager of the WBC, said this six-month course is designed to help grow your business and make your plan stand out. She also added, “There’s that opportunity to really learn a lot about that, learn about the economy, and how they can really grow in our area and make a huge impact in our local community.”

Through the program, entrepreneurs will learn how to improve a strong business plan, conduct wide-ranging market research, and implement effective marketing and financial strategies. It will also include workshops, personalized counseling, and, most importantly, a certification upon graduation.

Meek explains “The benefit about this is technically this is free,” and adds “All we’re asking everybody to do is bring a $100 deposit that is going to go into a credit building account. Or if they’re already in business, it’ll go into a credit repair account, if they choose. That’ll benefit them if they’re looking for funding down the road.”

Anyone interested must register by January 15 for a mandatory orientation, which can be done online. For additional questions about the certification course, inquiries can be directed to Meeks at cmeek@cstonealliance.org.