11 FEB 2013

First Graduation of Cleveland Small Business Owners From Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

36 Small Business Owners Working to Grow, Create Jobs

On February 11, 2013, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) hosted the graduation of 36 Cleveland-area small business owners from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. Goldman Sachs President Gary D. Cohn, U.S. Senator for Ohio Rob Portman, Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Tri-C President Doctor Jerry Sue Thornton gave remarks at the ceremony, congratulating the business owners on their completion of the program.

The business owners who graduated today represent a wide variety of industries and businesses including manufacturing, catering, marketing and IT services. They spent 11 weeks at Tri-C studying a business and management curriculum designed by Babson College, the top ranked school for entrepreneurial education, and customized by Tri-C faculty. The curriculum covered accounting, human resources, negotiation and marketing, among other topics. The program also included one-on-one business advising, accounting workshops and advice from Goldman Sachs professionals.

10,000 Small Businesses launched in Cleveland in May 2012, committing $15 million for small business loans, business education and grants for supporting community partners. Additional partners involved in the program in Cleveland include the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), JumpStart, Inc., the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland. These partners help with the recruitment of small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Greater Cleveland area and assist in providing technical assistance and business support services.

For information about the business and management education program, please visit: www.tri-c.edu/10ksb. Applications are currently being accepted and are due on March 11, 2013.

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