‘Quick pitch’ earns CAC $7,500 grant

A three-minute pitch by Central Arizona College’s director of business and community outreach, Al Larson, could help transform future college graduates into business owners.

Larson’s pitch, which involves teaching instructors the basics of entrepreneurship, was made to the Coleman Foundation in an effort to win a $7,500 grant at the 7th Annual National Association for Community Colleges Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Conference held Oct. 11-14 in Chicago.

“Embedding entrepreneurship in our courses not only will allow us to train our students for jobs, but it gives them the skills to one day establish a business, something we need here in Pinal County,” Larson said.

NACCE connects community college administrators and faculty with knowledge and successful practices regarding entrepreneurial thinking, entrepreneurship education, and student business incubation.

“Participants in the conference had an opportunity to apply for these grants,” Larson, who ended up with the highest rating among all of the presenters, said. “My proposal was selected as one of 16 finalists to present in front of a panel from the Coleman Foundation while at the conference, but I had to leave before the awards were made.”

Larson’s proposal will bring together an Entrepreneurship Cadre comprised of lead instructors and program directors across CAC’s career and technical programs who will be trained to develop and deliver curriculum that encourages entrepreneurship

“After cadre members are selected,” Larson explained.” CAC will host a train-the-trainer session with a presenter from the Symposium for Community College Entrepreneurship (S-CCEE) and local small business professionals identified by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).”

This event will provide general information to programs about the impact of entrepreneurship in the local community and CAC’s potential role in fostering entrepreneurs coming through the institution.

“Specific assistance will be given for instructors to incorporate these concepts in our programs,” he said. “Local entrepreneurs will continue to be solicited as presenters to team teach entrepreneurship in our certificate and degree programs.”

CAC’s SBDC will test pilot a formal entrepreneurship program in the town of Maricopa with participants of the cadre being counted upon to serve on an advisory council for this group.

“The CAC SBDC is committed to highlighting and supporting local efforts to advance small business success,” said Jim Rhodes, the center’s director. “The city of Maricopa is working with consultant Jim Rives to provide entrepreneurship training to local business owners. A cadre of small business owners has begun training in this grant-funded program.”

The Central Arizona College Small Business Development Center, through the direct efforts of Larry Gamell, one of the business counselors, is supporting Maricopa’s initiative to strengthen small businesses in the area.

“We would like to add another dimension to the current Maricopa effort by including the existing cadre of business owners in the broader CAC entrepreneurship program development,” Rhodes said.

The grant project will culminate with presentations to the local Workforce Investment Board and its One Stop Committee, civic leaders, chambers, and economic development entities.

Photo courtesy of NACCE