10/01/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mike Hahn, program manager, Business Incubation Services, UNI Regional Business Center, (319) 236-8123, or toll-free at 1-888-237-8124

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center, in partnership with New Hampton Economic Development and New Horizons (New Hampton) Chamber, is launching delivery of a specialized business development program for the New Hampton community this fall.

A highlight of the program will be the new virtual incubator (VI), according to Mike Hahn, program manager for Business Incubation Services with UNI's Regional Business Center. He said the VI will utilize leading edge computer technology to provide New Hampton area entrepreneurs a direct link from their community to UNI's business development assets. The VI will be serviced monthly onsite by an RBC consultant.

This program also includes a customized entrepreneurial curriculum and educational workshops designed to assist area businesses in incorporating e-commerce in their daily operations.

The first program, Smart Start, is free and is being offered twice -- at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, and at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 9. This program is a one-hour blitz briefly covering business planning, financing, credit, and legal and tax issues.

The next program is Fast Trac-Entrepreneurial Training. This is a 10-session program teaching how to successfully start and grow your business. It will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 15 through Dec. 17. Regular cost for this course, including all materials, is $199, but it is being offered in the New Hampton area at the reduced price of $25.

Other programs, to be offered in the spring of 2002, will be: IRS Small Business Tax Workshop, Introduction to Online Technology, Developing Online Presence and E-Business Principles.

All sessions will be held in New Hampton at the Linn View Business Complex, 951 N. Linn

(Hwy. 63 N.).

For more information call Mike Hahn toll-free at 1-888-237-8124 or (319) 236-8123; Tammy Robinson, assistant director, New Hampton Economic Development, (641) 394-2437; or Karen Amundson, director, New Horizons Chamber, (641) 394-2021.

###

[New Hampton UNI RBC 1001] [VI,EP] jm\v:L,Sp