FOSTORIA, Ohio — Entrepreneurs in Fostoria have a chance to learn more about running their own business and also bounce their ideas off of other business owners.
The second session of CO. STARTERS is ready to begin next month in Fostoria.
This international 10-week program aims to not only help hopeful entrepreneurs learn the ins and outs of running their own business, but also gives the participants a chance to refine their business model with established entrepreneurs and their other classmates.
"This program really builds community. As our participants walk through that 10 weeks together, they come out as friends, supporters, mentors. And our last group actually requested that we continually host monthly CO. STARTER alumni meet ups," said Sarah Stephens Krupp, small business director at Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce.
The 10-week course will run every Wednesday at the Fostoria Learning Center starting Feb. 10.
Organizers know how important it is to have a strong small business community for the entire local economy.
But it's especially important in smaller cities like Fostoria, where larger organizations are more difficult to bring in.
"Because we know as a small community if we're really going to grow our small business environment, We really need to be fostering homegrown startups, especially when it comes to retail," said Stephens Krupp.
She says this upcoming CO. STARTERS session has 12 seats available due to COVID-19 and registration end on Feb. 5.
But if more people wish to register, they could launch another cohort soon.