New FBI Program for Small Businesses
Los Angeles–based nonprofit organization Fashion Business Inc. has launched a new program that would allow many small businesses to take FBI’s industry training seminars for free.
The program is funded through the state Employment Training Panel’s Small Business Pilot Project and, for qualified companies, will pay for up to 60 hours of FBI seminars.
The program is designed to help small businesses in California that are facing competition from companies in other states or in other countries. The intent is to help these companies become more competitive through specialized industry training.
To qualify for the program, a company must be based in California and have at least one full-time employee. (The program is limited to small businesses; companies with more than 100 employees are not eligible.) The employees must meet ETP’s wage requirement of $12.90 per hour, although the wage requirement is lower if the company offers certain health benefits.
Applicants need to register with ETP prior to taking classes to determine eligibility. Once accepted into the program, applicants will be reimbursed for the courses at a rate of $20 per training hour. ETP has set a maximum cap on reimbursement per company at $50,000.
More information is available at ETP’s Web site, www.etp.ca.gov. The registration for the program is available at www.etp.ca.gov/orientation/register.cfm.
FBI to go
FBI is also working on putting many of its seminars and workshops on DVD and audio CD to allow manufacturers and designers to take advantage of the organization’s programs at their own pace at home, work or in the car.
To start, FBI has produced five seminar kits:
bull; “How to Recruit & Develop Your Sales Team”
bull; “How to Create a Well-Drafted Sales Rep Agreement”
bull; “How to Build Your Trunk Show”
bull; “Operational Management Seminar,” which includes determining management size and functions, conducting market analysis and assessing the competition, developing marketing strategies, and making financial projections
bull; “The Name of the Game Is Profit—Learn How to Grow a Profitable Apparel Company”
The courses are taught by FBI instructors and consultants Robert Silverstone and Gabriele Goldaper.
Each kit includes one DVD, two 2-hour audio CDs and a workbook. The suggested retail price is $95. FBI members can rent the kits at a rate of $20 per week.
More information about the kits is available online at www.fashionbizinc.org. —Alison A. Nieder
