NORWICH – Chenango County Government and Commerce Chenango announced they will be receiving funding from the NYS Office of Community Renewal Community Development Block Grant program to continue a Chenango County Microenterprise Program. The microenteprise program is projected to assist approximately 18 businesses and create as many as 16 new full- and part-time jobs in the next two years.

The new Microenterprise Program will consist of small business training courses for new and existing business owners; technical assistance, including business planning and help with financial projections for low- and moderate- income (LMI) business owners and those creating jobs for low- and moderate income residents of Chenango County; and a grant component for those who successfully meet the small business class requirements and who are deemed eligible to apply.

The small business course will be titled, “Starting or Expanding a Small Business,” and will be offered in conjunction with Morrisville State College, Norwich Campus. The course will be 24 hours long, offered at three hour intervals on weeknights over an eight week period. The first class will begin in February 2011. Program participants will be expected to pay tuition to participate in the course, and successful LMI grant recipient participants will be eligible to have their tuition reimbursed with program funds.