Small business grants

The Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship was recently awarded two grants from the Small Business Administration's Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME).

One grant, totaling $148,912, will fund the center's training programs for low-income entrepreneurs. The center's program, Operation Jump Start, will be a model for other programs in the eight-state Delta Regional Authority.

Since its inception in 2006, more than 750 people have completed the Operation Jump Start program at Southeast. The program trains the participants in several key areas of business. At the end of the course, the participants create their own business plan.

Three hundred fifty people have started new businesses after completing the Southeast Operation Jump Start program. Of this group of small business entrepreneurs, 92 percent are still in business after two years.

The second grant of $97,564 will help, in-part, small business owners get their business off and running with access to capital. Funds will also be available for product development and market research.

Southeast's center is doing an excellent job at preparing entrepreneurs to launch small businesses. These grants will further support Southeast's great work.