Featured photo: Sandra Etherly-Johnson, executive director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and community relations and project manager for the Business Bridge for the Flint and Genesee Group
Written By Jameca Patrick-Singleton
The Flint and Genesee Group has announced a training series aimed to help increase the capacity of small businesses in Genesee County. The series, hosted under the Business Bridge arm of the agency, will explore topics such as building brands that sell, diverse contracting strategies, business banking and responding to RFPs (request for proposal -a project announcement posted publicly by an organization indicating that bids for contractors to complete the project are sought).
Participants of the trainings may be eligible to win prizes such as a digital pitch deck, free assistance in creating an LLC (limited liability company) and much more. Residents who are interested in starting a small business, or who already own or operate a small business are encouraged to attend.
“We want to take people all the way from your idea, all the way to your contract” said Sandra Etherly-Johnson, executive director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the Flint and Genesee Group.
Etherly-Johnson also serves as the project manager for the Business Bridge. Etherly-Johnson, whose role in part is to advance diversity in Genesee County businesses and decrease barriers for minority-owned businesses, also discussed the vast amount of opportunities the Flint Genesee Group has available for entrepreneurial-minded people.
“We want to promote and bring more visibility to entrepreneurs who are just starting out by helping them to promote who they are and what their business is doing, as well as providing some support and training along the way” stated Etherly-Johnson.
The workshops will be free and held the first Wednesday of every month starting September 6. They will be held at Berston Field House, located at 3300 Saginaw St. Flint, MI 48505.
