By SCBIZ Staff

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Women’s Business Center graduated its largest class thus far from the nationally recognized Core Four Business Planning Course. Twenty-one small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Midlands participated in the course training and 10 candidates graduated in the ceremony July 31. The course is a total of 12 hours of training, three hours per week for four weeks.

“The Core Four course is an invaluable tool for both aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs. The principles presented in the course are critical factors in helping business owners realize their personal and professional goals,” says Carol Robinson, training coordinator for SCWBC.

SCWBC began offering the course in August 2006 and has graduated 44 Columbia-area business owners from the program, which emphasizes a hands-on curriculum that takes entrepreneurs from a business idea to launching and growing a successful, market-driven, cash healthy, well-managed business.

“The course was both educational and inspirational,” said Lisa Rollins, special needs child advocate with Walker’s Voice. “I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and converse with other like-minded women in business and hear their goals and ambitions as well as explore the channels available to achieve these dreams.”

Graduates of the course include: Jacqueline Brabham, Leonetta B. Davis, Jannie Dennis, JoAnna DiPastena, Victoria English, Beverly Harris,Vivian Patterson, Lisa H. Rollins, Bernice A. Walker and Rebecca Widowski.

The next two Core Four class series begin Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. Cost is $50 per person. To register or for more information, call Jeannie Jones at SCWBC at (803) 461-8900, ext. 232 or register online at www.scwbc.org.  

The SCWBC opened in 2002 and has provided about 13,500 hours of counseling to almost 2,900 women entrepreneurs in various parts of South Carolina. It was formed to assist the 128,000 existing women-owned businesses in the state, as well as new female-owned ventures. It is a grant-funded program partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.