Recruitment for the 2014 Emerging Leaders Class is Underway

What is Emerging Leaders?

The Emerging Leaders is an intensive training initiative to accelerate high-potential small businesses’ growth in America’s inner-cities. This comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to catapult participating companies to the next level and help them emerge as growing, self-sustaining businesses in their community.

What does the Emerging Leaders advanced training entail?

Over seven months, participants are required to participate in approximately 60-80 hours of classroom instruction, generally two three-hour sessions per month. The method used is primarily instructor-facilitated discussion of the training curriculum. Outside subject matter experts are included as guest speakers to bring a “real world” perspective. Additionally, class participants meet and work in smaller CEO Peer Mentoring Groups for an additional 15-20 hours during the training period.

Topics/subjects include:

• Business & Leadership Assessment

• Finances

• Marketing & Sales

• Business Development Resources

• Growth Action Plan

In order to successfully complete and graduate from the program, participants must not have more than two unexcused absences from classroom or CEO Peer Mentoring Group sessions. They must also prepare and give a 15-minute presentation at the last class session on a three-year strategic growth plan for their business developed from their learning experience before a panel of business and economic development experts.

What types of businesses does Emerging Leaders target?

The Emerging Leaders advanced training series is open to the President, Managing Partner, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Operating Officer of small businesses that:

• Have been in active operation at least three years

• Have generated for the past three years an average annual revenue of at least $400,000 not to exceed $10,000,000

• Have at least one employee besides the owner(s)

This training is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business.

Is participation in the Emerging Leaders Initiative free?

YES! The only cost is your time and commitment to complete the curriculum over the course of seven months. All other costs are covered by SBA and our local partners.

For more information, please contact Dorothy Atkins (404) 331-0100 ext. 305 or Charlotte Johnson, (404) 331-0100 ext. 405. Formal Expressions of Interest to participate must be received by midnight, March 21, 2014. The 2014 Emerging Leaders class begins on April 21, 2014.

How do I sign up?

Business executives interested in participating should complete the online registration form.  For registration follow up questions, contact your local participating SBA District Office.

For information, contact emergingleaders@sba.gov.

The Emerging Leaders Initiative is based on available funding and currently hosted in the following cities:

Albuquerque, NM
Denver, CO
Miami, FL
Oklahoma City, OK
Syracuse, NY
Atlanta, GA
Detroit, MI
Los Angeles, CA
Philadelphia, PA
Wichita, KS
Baltimore, MD
Newark, NJ
Memphis, TN
Phoenix, AZ
Youngstown, OH
Boston, MA
Fresno, CA
Milwaukee WI
Portland, OR
Chicago, IL
Helena, MT
Minneapolis, MN
Seattle, WA
Dallas, TX
Honolulu, HI
New Orleans, LA
St. Louis, MO