Seminars Offer Food For Thought
Help for entrepreneurs
Help for entrepreneurs National The University of Nebraska, Lincoln's FoodStrategy program
offers a one-day seminar, "From Product to Profit,"
designed to help prospective entrepreneurs as well as restaurant or
store owners manufacture food products. Content Continues Below
The seminars are open to anyone and will be held May 1, July 14,
September 4 and October 17. Subjects covered include product
development, market selection, regulatory issues, legal
requirements, pricing, packaging and promotion. The cost for Nebraska residents to attend is $150 for the first
person and $75 for each additional person from a company;
non-Nebraskans pay $250 and $100, respectively. Those interested
must preregister at least two weeks in advance by calling food
specialist Arlis Burney at (402) 472-5791. "From Product to Profit" is the first part of the
university's food manufacturing program. In the second part,
"Start-Up Services and Consultation," participants
receive confidential, individualized help developing and marketing
their products. Fees vary. Big Companies Share Money, Expertise With Small Firms American Express, Ameritech and Apple Computer are helping
small-business owners boost their bottom lines.
- American Express has two new revolving credit lines with
entrepreneurs in mind. The Gold Corporate Optima Card allows
individuals to carry a balance, features a line of credit up to
$20,000 and has no annual fee. The Corporate Platinum Card is an
unsecured line of credit from $5,000 to $50,000 that requires only
a minimum payment to keep it current; customers can use checks or a
credit card to make purchases. Both cards are available only to
current American Express cardholders.
In addition to setting up a joint venture with AT&T Capital
Corp. to provide equipment leasing to small-business owners (see
March "Bulletin Board"), American Express has also opened
small-business centers in Phoenix and Los Angeles where credit card
services, tax and business consulting, and financial planning are
provided; some services are free.
- Ameritech has set up two Home Office Telecom centers
staffed by specialists trained to help homebased entrepreneurs
determine the best communication systems for their companies. The
free service is available in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana
and Ohio; to register for service, visit (http://www.HomeOfficesTelecom.com),
or call (800) Work-Life.
- Apple and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
have joined forces to open 48 planned Apple Business Productivity
Centers nationwide. The centers help individuals start or grow a
business. Free services available include the use of customized
software templates to write business plans, design business cards
and brochures, and apply for SBA loans. Users can also access the
Internet and use computers, printers, scanners, digital cameras,
networking equipment and teleconferencing capabilities.
At press time, 23 Apple Business Productivity Centers had
opened; for the center nearest you, visit (http://www.Smallbusiness.Apple.com),
or call your local SBA office.
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