Free Online Resource Helps Aspiring Entrepreneurs Gain Crucial Business Skills

Blue Bell/Pottstown, Pa.— Aspiring entrepreneurs can conveniently learn the nuts and bolts of starting a business thanks to a new, online program developed by Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) for the Pennsylvania Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives Collaborative. The program can be accessed online at BEresource.com.

“Starting Your Own Business” is a free, self-paced program through which learners explore five modules on topics such as business basics, financial and legal considerations, and marketing, as well as an in-depth case study. The final module of the program guides learners through the process of developing a customized business plan.

“In today’s market, entrepreneurial spirit is more than being a business owner. Employers increasingly expect employees to think entrepreneurially when developing ideas and solving problems,” shared Philip Needles, dean of Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives at MCCC.

Learners who successfully finish the program and business plan will earn a proof of completion certificate and may be eligible to earn three credits at MCCC through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Other colleges and universities may also evaluate the completed course and business plan for possible PLA credit toward one of their respective programs.

PLA is the process used by many institutions to determine if an individual’s prior educational, workforce and life experiences can be translated to college credits. Assessments can include evaluation of military or corporate training, review of portfolios, customized tests, and evaluation of completed non-credit courses, among others.

The “Starting Your Own Business” project is funded by a U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant, and is part of a joint initiative of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges to train and place underemployed and unemployed residents of the Commonwealth in high demand jobs.

The program is open source and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To learn more about the project and its designers, visit BEresouce.com or contact Denise Collins at 215-619-7313 or dcollins@mc3.edu.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem 2014 Re-Opens Thursday, 12/4 At 11am

Recognized by Travel+Leisure Magazine as one of the top holiday markets in the U.S., Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans, the heart-warming sounds of live Christmas music, delicious food and more.

Become an ArtsQuest member today and you’ll not only receive FREE admission to Christkindlmarkt but also an ArtsQuest gift card good for purchases at the ArtsQuest Center and the Stacks Shop at Christkindlmarkt!

Contact Samantha Kulp at 610-332-1365 for more information or visit http://www.christmascity.org/

Act 1 DeSales University Performing Arts Presents: Little Women The Musical

Friday * December 5 * 8:00 p.m.
Main Stage of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s enduring novel, this popular Broadway musical follows the lives of Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March as they come of age in Civil War America. An aspiring writer, Jo finds inspiration in the memories of the lives, loves, and tragedies that she and her sisters experience while their father is off at war. This holiday season, Little Women will remind us to stand for what we believe in and to care deeply for those we love. Ages 6+

Click Here to Buy
Last Minute Discount
RUSH Tickets
for ONLY $9.99!
Price of Regular Ticket at the door $29.00
Rush Tickets available online only

Lehigh Valley Arts Council
www.LVArtsCouncil.org ◊ www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org

Rush Ticketing is a service of the Lehigh Valley Arts Council. For more information, visit:
www.lvartscouncil.org/RushTicketing.html

HOOVER FINANCIAL ADVISORS EXCEEDS FUNDS FOR FOOD GOAL

Larry Welsch, Chester County Food Bank executive director, is all smiles as he accepts a check from Hoover Financial Advisors. Shown with Welsch (l to r) are Pete Hoover, Beth Hoover and Kelly Hoover.

Malvern, PA – Hoover Financial Advisors completed its fall Funds for Food campaign by raising     $12, 500 for Chester County Food Bank. The goal was $10,000. “We couldn’t be happier to exceed our original plan,” says Pete Hoover, CFP, president and founder of HFA. “The holidays can be tough for families who don’t have enough to eat. The Food Bank reports that more than 50,000 residents of Chester County are food-insecure. Last year, it distributed over 2.6 million pounds of food, including 800, 000 pounds of fresh produce, to 100 food cupboards. We are very pleased to be able to help and thank all our clients and business colleagues who contributed so generously to the fund-raising campaign.”

“Hoover Financial Advisors has been a wonderful partner to Chester County Food Bank, says executive director Larry Welsch. “The company supports us with both monetary contributions and through volunteering. HFA has hosted fund drives among its clients to strengthen this support. We are so very fortunate to have corporations like HFA, who are not only supportive of the efforts of the Food Bank, but are also genuinely committed to the Chester County community. HFA is a true ambassador of Chester County Food Bank,” concludes Welsch.

HFA, which is headquartered on Moores Road in Malvern, was launched in 2005 by Hoover, who has been an independent financial advisor for more than 30 years.  Since its inception, HFA has tripled in size. Employees include client relationship managers, financial planners, insurance and tax specialists, investment analyst and an information services manager. Two years ago, HFA was selected as 2012 Small Business of the Year by Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. For more details, visit its website at petehoover.com or call 610.651.2777. Go to ChesterCountyfoodbank.org for Chester County Food Bank information.