Downtown Fresno SBA district office via interiorintervention.blogspot.com

Fresno has been selected as one of four California cities to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Initiative for 2021.

Emerging Leaders is aimed at executives of small businesses poised for growth in underserved markets, according to an SBA news release.

The program offers free entrepreneurship education and training for potential job creators, including nearly 100 hours of classroom time. Participants also get the opportunity to work with a network of experienced coaches and mentors, attend specialized workshops and develop connections with peers, city leaders and the financial community.

Local area recruitment for the 2021 training cycle is currently underway at designated SBA District Offices. Interested small business owners can learn more regarding eligibility, how to apply, class schedules and locations at www.sba.gov/emergingleaders, or by contacting their local SBA District Office.

“I am proud of Emerging Leaders’ success to date, and the impact the training has made in helping to take small businesses from across the country to the next level,” stated Allen Gutierrez, associate administrator of the SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development. “As small businesses are recovering from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, SBA will continue to provide key resources to help businesses to grow even stronger and return to prosperity. Since its inception in 2008, Emerging Leaders has trained more than 4,000 small business owners, creating over 7,000 jobs, generating over $500 million in new financing, and securing over $4 billion in government contracts.”

Since 2011, representatives from more than 100 Valley companies have participated in the program, nicknamed the “SBA MBA.”

For more information, read this 2019 article from Dawn Golik, director of the Fresno SBA District Office. Visit the Emerging Leaders Initiative registration website if you are interested in participating.