LAPLACE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Economic Development Department is offering its Spring 2015 FastTrac program to all certified small and emerging businesses in St. John Parish.

The program is composed of 10 sessions aimed at providing the tools for managing a successful business.

Organizers said FastTrac is a nationally recognized entrepreneurial training program developed by the Kaufman Foundation, a recognized leader in entrepreneurship. 

The program will begin March 5 and continue through May 14. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays at the St. John Business Training Center, located at the SCL Technical College at 181 Regala Park Road in Reserve.

At a value of $1,125, the cost is only $100 to interested participants.

During the program, participants will receive:

• Practical business education to build a profitable and sustainable business.

• A program workbook.

• Lifetime access to an online FastTrac toolkit.

• An assigned business coach during the program.

• Free unlimited assistance from LSBDC business consultants.

Upon program completion, participants will:

• Have completed a business plan that can be used to access funding.

• Be eligible to apply for a business loan with the Louisiana Federal Credit Union.

• Be eligible to apply for funding assistance for selected managerial and technical assistance projects.

• Have gained valuable business skills and tools with strategies that can be implemented immediately.

Interested parties can contact Wayne Aucoin at the Business Training Center at 985-479-1247 or via email at stjohnbtc@lsbdc.org.