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Trade industry professions, such as auto repair and carpentry, have been the lifeblood of many residents of the Mon Valley for more than 30 years. The University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) and Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE) are collaborating on a project that will assist the Mon Valley region turn its labor jobs into profitable and lasting business ventures.

The project, “Advancing Entrepreneurship in the Mon Valley Region,” will provide business consultation, education, and research to existing small business owners and emerging entrepreneurs in the region. The project has received a two-year grant of from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Advancing entrepreneurship is a key economic development strategy for the Mon Valley region. “Economic distress continues to be pervasive in the Mon Valley, decades after the shuttering of many steel mills. This project will create pathways for emerging and existing entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses and link to public-private partnerships that address the needs of these emerging firms,” said project principal investigator Sabina Deitrick.
The project includes these two-hour programs on helping to start and grow new businesses:

Make It Happen in the Mon Valley
An interactive workshop to determine if starting a business is right and how to begin searching for the “right” business. Carnegie Library of Homestead, February 4, 2016, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The First Step: Mechanics of Starting a Small Business
A comprehensive workshop designed for anyone with a business idea looking for how to get started. This is a highly interactive session to explore market potential and tools you’ll need to attract customers. Carnegie Library of Homestead, February 18, 2016, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Second Step: Creating a Business Plan
A workshop that will help you develop a business plan, a tool successful business owners use to guide their businesses’ growth. A business plan is critical to supporting and sustaining your businesses. Carnegie Library of Homestead, February 25, 2016, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Mon Valley firms are also eligible for one-on-one consulting services offered by IEE. These are provided at no fee. To register for any of these workshops, please call 412-624-3095 or email iee@innovation.pitt.edu. For more information, visit us online at http://monvalleyentrepreneur.pitt.edu.

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