Growing Greene County: A New Initiative from C-GCC and the Cairo Chamber of Commerce

C-GCC and the Cairo Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to launch Growing Greene County, a program designed to provide specialized assistance to local smallbusiness entrepreneurs. Stacey Hills, assistant professor of Business, said the three-course, eightcredit program will meet at the Cairo Library on Wednesday nights, and will provide a toolkit of business skills to students.

“This new offering is for those who’d like to start a small business, but may not know where or how to begin,” Hills explained. “And, knowing that we need more start-ups and continuing businesses in the skilled trades, we’re especially hoping to focus on that pool.” The course begins this fall with Foundations of Business, wherein students will learn the basics of management, marketing, business law, and related skills, ending the semester with draft business plans and the required paperwork to get their businesses started.

In Spring 2022, the course continues with Entrepreneurship; building on the business plans created in the Foundations class, students will continue to work out the details of their plans, including pricing, promotions, funding, and growth strategies. Business Professional Development will be offered across the Fall and Spring semesters, to complement the students’ business plan development, and give them the opportunity to hone soft skills – particularly in the areas of networking and presentation. Successful completion will award students college credits that can be applied to further certificate and degree programs, and financial assistance is available through the Greene Light to Enrollment Fund.

Attention Greene County residents!

Through the newly established Greene Light to Enrollment Fund, Greene County is making it possible for residents of the County to receive scholarships covering tuition for credit and/or non-credit classes. For more information, e-mail joan.koweek@sunycgcc.edu or call 518.828.4181, Extension 3727.