MEO Graduates 15 Business Startups

MEO BDC Director Craig Swift and Core Four Graduate Tihani Yamane. Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center (MEO BDC) graduated 15 students from its Core Four Business Planning course on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

At the graduation, the soon-to-be entrepreneurs were able to talk with Maui business bankers who had volunteered their time to review the students’ business plans and provide additional guidance in operating a successful business.

The graduating students received a Certificate of Achievement and a congratulations luncheon.

MEO BDC’s Core Four Business Planning is a 36-hour course on how to write a business plan while providing the information needed to know to start, operate and grow a business.

The next round of classes will be an evening series and interested parties can attend a free, one-hour introductory classes on January 8 and January 10 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at MEO’s Family Center, or at the Maui County Business Resource Center in the Maui Mall on Jan. 9 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The six-week series begins on Tuesday, January 15 and continues from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for two days a week through Feb. 26. All sessions will be held at MEO’s Family Center at 99 Mahalani Street in Wailuku, and scholarship funds are available.

Registration is required for the six-week series and can be done at the introductory classes or any weekday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at MEO’s Family Center.

Funding from the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development helps to make the Core Four Business Planning Classes possible.