Small businesses with big entrepreneurial plans sometimes can’t reach their goals due to limited creative manpower. That’s where a special service-learning project at Bridgewater College hopes to make a difference.
Twenty seniors in an entrepreneurship course want to form working partnerships with five Harrisonburg and Rockingham County small businesses or non-profits for the spring 2012 semester.
Their goal: to help these businesses with market studies, consumer research, feasibility studies for new products or services, fundraising and production of publications, shows or events, among others. In order to participate in the project small businesses and nonprofits should present projects that are entrepreneurially oriented, are designed to fit the students’ capabilities, can be completed over a three-month period and have enough substance to merit course credit.
Students can also help these companies with the development of strategic partnerships, the creation of financial or cash flow models, the development of new products or services, making investor presentations, researching supply chains or making distribution plans.
“Students will use their knowledge in all business topics such as accounting, marketing, strategy and human resources to analyze the firms, assess their needs, make plans of action and then implement the plans,” said Dr. Maria V. Lugo, assistant professor of business administration and a faculty adviser for the project.
Businesses or non-profits that are interested in taking advantage of Bridgewater’s Entrepreneurial Experience-Service Learning Project should contact Lugo by email [email protected] or by telephone at 540.828.5418. The deadline for submitting is Dec. 16.
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