Description: April 25 Wednesday : 3-5pm Cottage to Commercial Kitchen Jeannie Nichols, Mark Thomas, & Joanne Davidhizar, MSU Ext. $25
Cottage to Commercial:  Ingredients for a Successful Food Business Whether you have dabbled with a home-baked cookie under the Michigan Cottage Food Law, or dreamed about bottling Grandma’s spaghetti sauce, food products are serious business.  This session will deal with basic food processing requirements, business development resources, and related topics for the establishment of a commercial food venture. 

Description: Apr16,23, 30, May 7: 6:30-9:30pm $90 **students also need book (inc. $30 exam sheet)
NATIONAL REGISTRY of FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS Food Safety Managers Certification Exam The 2005 Michigan Food Code [which is Michigan Law] requires all food establishments to have on staff one person certified in food safety and sanitation. The law initially applied to restaurants, hospitals, schools, churches, senior citizen centers, and some selected other types of food establishments. Recently added to the required list are grocery stores, meat markets, and both convenience stores and gas stations that prepare and serve ready-to-eat foods. This Food Safety Manager Certification training course is designed to help prepare you for the Food Safety Manager
Certification Exam. This course covers all the major topics related to safe food service, and all other information you will need to pass this critical certification exam. This training course and your upcoming exam are based on the information contained within the Food Code 2009 as provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test will have 80 or 85 multiple choice questions. If an 85 question exam is used, then five of the questions will be non-scored pilot questions. A passing score of 75 % or higher will receive a certificate of completeness from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Description: Apr16,23, 30, May 7: 6:30-9:30pm $90 **students also need book (inc. $30 exam sheet)
NATIONAL REGISTRY of FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS Food Safety Managers Certification Exam The 2005 Michigan Food Code [which is Michigan Law] requires all food establishments to have on staff one person certified in food safety and sanitation. The law initially applied to restaurants, hospitals, schools, churches, senior citizen centers, and some selected other types of food establishments. Recently added to the required list are grocery stores, meat markets, and both convenience stores and gas stations that prepare and serve ready-to-eat foods. This Food Safety Manager Certification training course is designed to help prepare you for the Food Safety Manager
Certification Exam. This course covers all the major topics related to safe food service, and all other information you will need to pass this critical certification exam. This training course and your upcoming exam are based on the information contained within the Food Code 2009 as provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test will have 80 or 85 multiple choice questions. If an 85 question exam is used, then five of the questions will be non-scored pilot questions. A passing score of 75 % or higher will receive a certificate of completeness from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Description: Apr16,23, 30, May 7: 6:30-9:30pm $90**students also need book (inc. $30 exam sheet)
NATIONAL REGISTRY of FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS Food Safety Managers Certification Exam The 2005 Michigan Food Code [which is Michigan Law] requires all food establishments to have on staff one person certified in food safety and sanitation. The law initially applied to restaurants, hospitals, schools, churches, senior citizen centers, and some selected other types of food establishments. Recently added to the required list are grocery stores, meat markets, and both convenience stores and gas stations that prepare and serve ready-to-eat foods. This Food Safety Manager Certification training course is designed to help prepare you for the Food Safety Manager
Certification Exam. This course covers all the major topics related to safe food service, and all other information you will need to pass this critical certification exam. This training course and your upcoming exam are based on the information contained within the Food Code 2009 as provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test will have 80 or 85 multiple choice questions. If an 85 question exam is used, then five of the questions will be non-scored pilot questions. A passing score of 75 % or higher will receive a certificate of completeness from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Description: Apr16,23, 30, May 7: 6:30-9:30pm $90**students also need book (inc. $30 exam sheet)
NATIONAL REGISTRY of FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS Food Safety Managers Certification Exam The 2005 Michigan Food Code [which is Michigan Law] requires all food establishments to have on staff one person certified in food safety and sanitation. The law initially applied to restaurants, hospitals, schools, churches, senior citizen centers, and some selected other types of food establishments. Recently added to the required list are grocery stores, meat markets, and both convenience stores and gas stations that prepare and serve ready-to-eat foods. This Food Safety Manager Certification training course is designed to help prepare you for the Food Safety Manager
Certification Exam. This course covers all the major topics related to safe food service, and all other information you will need to pass this critical certification exam. This training course and your upcoming exam are based on the information contained within the Food Code 2009 as provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test will have 80 or 85 multiple choice questions. If an 85 question exam is used, then five of the questions will be non-scored pilot questions. A passing score of 75 % or higher will receive a certificate of completeness from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Description: Apr16,23, 30, May 7: 6:30-9:30pm $90 **students also needs book (inc. $30 exam sheet)
NATIONAL REGISTRY of FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS Food Safety Managers Certification Exam The 2005 Michigan Food Code [which is Michigan Law] requires all food establishments to have on staff one person certified in food safety and sanitation. The law initially applied to restaurants, hospitals, schools, churches, senior citizen centers, and some selected other types of food establishments. Recently added to the required list are grocery stores, meat markets, and both convenience stores and gas stations that prepare and serve ready-to-eat foods. This Food Safety Manager Certification training course is designed to help prepare you for the Food Safety Manager
Certification Exam. This course covers all the major topics related to safe food service, and all other information you will need to pass this critical certification exam. This training course and your upcoming exam are based on the information contained within the Food Code 2009 as provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The test will have 80 or 85 multiple choice questions. If an 85 question exam is used, then five of the questions will be non-scored pilot questions. A passing score of 75 % or higher will receive a certificate of completeness from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Description: FastTracNew® Venture Entrepreneurial Training is an intensive, 8-week program that helps you evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning your own business. This program will be held on Monday mornings from April 30th – June 25th from 9:30-12:30 pm (No class on May 28th) at NECI-219 North 4th Street, 2nd Floor, Niles, MI.

The registration fee has been reduced from $700 to $180 thanks to MSU’s (BTOP) grant award. TO REGISTER: (269) 387-6004 www.misbtdc.org/southwestmichigan PRE-REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT REQUIRED. There is no cost to attend the Orientation class on April 16th from 9:30-10:30 am.

Key Objectives
• Test your business idea.
• Broaden your understanding of business
• Plan your financial needs to avoid cash flow problems.
• Structure your business operations for efficiency.
• Develop entrepreneurial skills by learning from other entrepreneurs.
Program Features
• 8 weekly 3-hour sessions.
• Industry and market research assistance.
• Small group activities and hands-on coaching during each session.
• MI-SBTDC consultant assigned for individual assistance outside of sessions.
• Text and online training materials are from the nationally recognized FastTrac® New Venture™ program proven through use with thousands of businesses.
• Entrepreneur guest speakers.
Program Benefits
• Provide process to launch your business with confidence.
• Identify opportunities to start your business.
• Learn new concepts to apply to your business each week.
• Addresses individual planning needs.
The MI-SBTDC The Starting a Business & Writing a Business Plan class will be conveniently held after the orientation on April 16th from 10:30-12:30 pm. No cost.

Through NECI, Niles DDA Main Street is working to provide resources designed to help small businesses, both current and future, grow and prosper by offering an array of business support resources and services developed by our network of contacts.

For more information, please contact Niles Main Street at 269-687-4332 or neci@uncoverniles.com. FastTrac® New Venture Entrepreneurial Training presented and sponsored by MiSBTDC, WMU Haworth College of Business, Economic Development Foundation, Michigan State University, Kauffman FastTrac, U.S. Small Business Administration and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Description: FREE Orientation for FastTrac (4/30-6/25)

Description: Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services is presenting a seminar on the Small Business Administration (SBA) financing options. The seminar will take place on Monday, April 9, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m at the Niles Entrepreneurial and Culinary Incubator – NECI – at 219 North 4th Street, Niles, Michigan 49120. There is NO cost to attend, however RSVPs are required.

If you are a bank lender, a small business owner, or an accountant, you will not want to miss this informative presentation on financing options from the Small Business Administration through Cornerstone Alliance. Presenters for the session include:

• Robert Jones, Program Manager with Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services will present an overview of the Microloan Program
• Brian Picarazzi Senior Area Manager with the SBA will present an overview of the SBA loan Programs

Deadline to register is Thursday, April 5, 2012. For further information or to register contact Reyna Price at 269-757-0225 or via e-mail at rprice@cstonealliance.org.

Cornerstone Alliance Small Business Services (CASBS) provides business counseling, training, technical and financial resource assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on low-income, women and minority entrepreneurs. Several of the programs offered through Small Business Services are SBA funded, including:

• Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance provides assistance and/or training in finance, management, marketing, procurement, and the internet, as well as addressing specialized topics such as home based businesses.
• Prime is the Program for Re-Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs, and is funded by the Small Business Administration. The SBA funding provides assistance to help low-income entrepreneurs who lack sufficient training and education to gain access to capital to establish or expand their existing small business.

Through NECI, Niles DDA Main Street is working to provide resources designed to help small businesses, both current and future, grow and prosper by offering an array of business support resources and services developed by our network of contacts.

For more information, please contact Niles Main Street at 269-687-4332 or neci@uncoverniles.com.