MBA CSI: Community entrepreneurs ready for business

Nine entrepreneurs from the "Starting Your Own Business" Entrepreneur Training Program marked the completion of the course with a showcase and graduation dinner at Club Montefiore on Friday May 14. The program is part of JMSB's MBA CSI (Community Service Initiative) and focuses on providing community and economic development training programs. MBA CSI Program Coordinator, Dave McKenzie, teamed up with the Little Burgundy Employment Centre (LBEC) of the Tyndale St. Georges Community Centre to create a program that provides training, technical support and business counselling to selected entrepreneurs in the Little Bugundy and Southwest region of Montreal. According to McKenzie, the program is "another option in the fight against poverty and reducing the unemployment and welfare rolls in the area. It also aims to develop sustainable enterprises, which offer meaningful employment and which create added value for the economy." The course, taught by Accountancy Lecturer Carmen Kuczewski, began with thirteen budding entrepreneurs. After three months of hard work, nine have completed their business plans and are ready to start their businesses. Future plans for the program include MBA students supporting the entrepreneurs as they begin their journey as business people and to provide consulting services along the way.