For anyone in Dothan area communities trying to start or grow a business
UPDATE as of 3/3/23: The 2023 class is now FULL and applications are closed.
Presented in partnership with UAB Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, the University of Notre Dame, and the Entrepreneurship Council, the Dothan Community Entrepreneurship Program seeks to help those in the Dothan area facing economic or other hardships to start and grow a business of their own. The program lasts 12 months and includes six Saturday "Boot Camp" sessions followed by 18 weeks of mentoring and 14 weeks of consulting, including assistance with research and identifying funding.
We seek to:
- Foster the creation of new, profitable ventures by those facing economic or other disadvantages
- Assist existing small businesses owned by those with disadvantages in becoming sustainable and growing
- Work with community members on the development of both the person as an entrepreneur and the business as a successful venture
- Identify and share best practices in poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship
- Measure and track the development and performance of entrepreneurs and their ventures based on program participation
- Celebrate entrepreneurial achievements of those facing/overcoming adversity
The 2023 class is now FULL and applications are closed. Check back in January of 2024 for information about the 2024 cohort.
Bootcamp Details
Program participants will benefit immensely from the Community & Entrepreneurship
Bootcamp, an intense, hands-on exposure to the fundamentals of launching and growing
a successful venture, taught by seasoned faculty, subject matter experts and successful
entrepreneurs. The bootcamp occurs on six consecutive Saturdays in the spring. Topics
covered in the Community Bootcamp address all facets of a successful venture, ranging
from the development of a viable business concept to understanding your market, designing
your profit model, setting up operations properly, marketing your venture, and understanding
the basic numbers. Our underlying focus is how to think and act in entrepreneurial
ways—including how to do more with less—and how to grow a venture when you have little
in the way of resources. The approach will be interactive, so participants will be
encouraged to bring business ideas and challenges into the weekly discussions.
Dates
Saturday mornings 9 am - 12 pm
March 4, 11, 18, 25
April 1, 8
Location
Health Center South Medical Tower
2826 Ross Clark Circle
Dothan, AL 36301
Who is eligible to participate?
Anyone in the community who suffers from adverse economic, physical, or related circumstances
is eligible to participate in the program. We focus on supporting community members
living in poverty who have a dream of starting and growing a venture, including those
who have already started a venture but are struggling.
Cost
The price of the Community Bootcamp is $500. However, scholarships of $475 are available
for anyone with financial need. All applicants are considered for scholarship.
Application Deadline
February 24, 2023
How can I support the program?
We welcome the involvement of community members as volunteers, mentors, and donors. Please contact Tara Black at tblack@healthcentersouth.com or Lynne George at lfirmin@troy.edu to learn more.
Please note that ​the 2023 class is now full and all applications will be added to a waitlist in the event of cancellations and for early entry into the 2024 class.