The City of Airdrie and Community Futures West has officially launched the SMARTstart program for 2019 with another group of enthusiastic entrepreneurs and their mentors.  

The group got together for the first time for what's affectionately known as "speed dating" where the entrepreneurs and new business owners are matched with the mentors who'll help them learn the ropes through the eight months of the course.

SMARTstart committee member Tara Levick with the City of Airdrie says since the first program was launched in 2014, almost 90 local entrepreneurs have received assistance from the program.  As a result, 16 new businesses have opened, including Thumbprint Craft Beer Market, Social Supper, Healthy Meals Made Easy, Tri Fit Training Ltd., and MJ McClain Chartered Professional Accountants.  In addition to the new businesses, 30 percent of participants had expanded their business operations by the end of the program.

It's no wonder that Levick says the SMARTstart program draws more interest each year.  "This year we did three information sessions prior to the application date closing and we had close to 50 people show up to those info sessions, so there's definitely a lot of interest out there to join the program," Levick explains.

She says the number of businesses that they accept is capped at 20, with a maximum of 25 entrepreneurs.  

Over the course of the eight-month program, entrepreneurs will complete the 100 Essential Business Skills online training from the GoForth Institute, participate in 11 in-person workshops and work with a mentor on the completion of a business, feasibility or strategic plan.  Levick says the mentorship aspect of SMARTstart is key to its success, with 17 business leaders taking part in this year's program.  

"We have three new mentors this year and a lot of returning ones," Levick says.  "It's honestly a great group of people who are volunteering their time to give back to these new entrepreneurs.  Most of the mentors say they wish that they had a program like this when they started their business because they think it could of helped them start out on the correct foot."

SMARTstart is an award-winning program which is delivered by the City of Airdrie Economic Development and Community Futures Centre West.  

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