Thinking of starting a business?

If you've been thinking of starting your own retail business, this free training course could help.

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Southeast Missouri State University, Old Town Cape and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to offer a five-week training program to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in starting new retail businesses.

The entrepreneurship training program, titled Operation-Jump Start, will begin April 20.

Participants in the Operation Jump-Start program will learn essential business planning and preparation skills with hands-on, practical training. Upon completion of the course, participants are eligible to submit a feasibility plan and compete for small start-up, micro grants (up to $5,000). An outside review panel will review the plans and select the most viable ventures to receive the funding. Participation in the course does not guarantee start-up grant funding.

Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape, is excited about the possibilities this training presents.

"This gives participants a real idea of how and where this can be done," Mills said. "It presents them with real life scenarios and shows them real opportunities we have in the downtown."

According to many business experts, a recession may be the best time to start a new business. Many well-known businesses began during a recession, such as Microsoft, Trader Joe's, HP, and FedEx. If you conduct some market research, create a careful business plan, and adopt a start small -- think big attitude, you might decide that now is the time to pursue your dream.

Those interested in attending the five-week training program should contact Torie Cox at (573) 651-2929 or tcox@semo.edu. Classes are scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 20, at 6 p.m. at the Southeast Innovation Center at 920 Broadway, and will be held on Tuesday and Thursday nights only.

To participate, contact the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at (573) 651-2929 by April 13. Those who are interested may also contact Old Town Cape at (573) 334-8085 for more information. Seating is limited to the first 25 applications.

Partial funding for this program was provided by the local WIRED initiative.