SARNIA, ON:�Entrepreneurs looking for guidance to start their own business are invited to attend the virtual seminar,�Learning for Life: Entrepreneurship 101,�Tuesday, September 28th�from 6:30P.M. � 8:00P.M.�The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership�s Business Enterprise Centre has�partnered�with the Lambton County Library to�offer�this�virtual service�designed to help local entrepreneurs that are considering starting their own business�but�do not�know where to start and�are�looking for guidance.�There is no cost to attend�the seminar, but registration is required.Entrepreneurs are�ambitious,�passionate, dedicated, hardworking individuals whose�success is often linked to support and access to resources. Learning for Life: Entrepreneurship 101�is designed to help individuals overcome challenges associated with starting up.�The seminar�will�provide�access to�useful literature, courses,�videos�and software�for entrepreneurs�to�be successful�as they embark on their journey.Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership CEO, Stephen Thompson,�says the first�seminar�held Wednesday, September 15th�was�well attended�and�educational.��The second evening is expected to�be�just as�successful as�entrepreneurs will take away vital information from�Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership's Small Business Enterprise Centre�Advisor Brian Maxfield and�Community Librarian,�Jason Andrews,� says Thompson. �They�helped�guide entrepreneurs through the process of writing a business plan, providing them with online educational tools and informing�of the services provided by the Lambton County Library and the Business Enterprise Centre.� Thompson added.Other topics to be covered will include�the�Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership's impact in making the Sarnia-Lambton�area�the place to live, work and play,�Lambton County Library's free resources, courses and equipment, sales and marketing strategies, operational and financial planning�and an overview of the Business Enterprise Centre�s free services to help entrepreneurs and small businesses.�If you have ever thought about starting your own business but don't know where to start, or are looking for guidance, this seminar is for you,� says Andrea Basra, Lambton County Library�s Public Services Coordinator for Adult Programs. �The�library has a diverse range of free resources and combining these resources with the expertise of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership�s Business Enterprise Centre will be beneficial for local entrepreneurs starting their own business.�In addition to the�Learning for Life: Entrepreneurship 101, entrepreneurs are encouraged to access free coaching,�mentorship�and advice from specialists�through the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership�s Business Enterprise Centre. Professional advisors�are available to help�businesses�pivot their services and adjust to the effects of COVID-19 by providing confidential one-on-one consultations. The program�is available until the end of�September�and�includes�specialists in the fields�of�Accounting (Brian Moore), Information Technology (Emily_Branton),�Legal (Andrew Maloney),�Sales and�Marketing (Brian Maxfield), Human Resources (Lisa Isaac),_and Finance and Planning (Fraser Parry).�More information can be found at�sarnialambton.on.ca/BEC.Seminar�InformationTuesday, September 28th, 20216:30P.M. � 8:00P.M.No cost, but registration is required:�sarnialambton.on.ca/EVENTSProgram�Contacts:[one_half]Chantelle CoreDevelopment CoordinatorSarnia-Lambton Economic PartnershipBusiness Enterprise Centre519-332-1820chantelle@sarnialambton.on.ca[/one_half] [one_half_last]Emily BissonCommunity Engagement / Communications Supervisor, Cultural Services DivisionCounty of Lambton519-845-0801 ext. 5222emily.bisson@county-lambton.on.ca[/one_half_last]ABOUT Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership and The Small Business Enterprise CentreThe Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we have a focus on promoting the distinct advantages that Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. SLEP�s Small Business Enterprise Centre, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade focuses on supporting entrepreneurs, as they navigate the new small business economy. The Centre assists those who are in: start-up mode; purchasing a new business for the first time; or looking for support to add a new revenue stream as they pivot to meet the evolving needs of their customers. By coordinating community-based economic development initiatives and working to maintain a commercially attractive environment, SLEP fosters new business creation, helps ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and works to attract growing businesses to the Sarnia-Lambton area. Visit sarnialambton.on.ca to learn more.ABOUT SBC OntarioThe Virtual Service Advisor initiative is part of the Small Business Centres (SBC) Ontario, which officially launched in February 2021 and is functioning as the Ontario Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network. Funding for this organization is provided by the Government of Ontario under the Ontario Together Fund initiative. This new network brings together 54 Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBEC) locations that have been in operation for over 30 years through support from the Ontario Government, as well as local and regional governments. By coming together as a formalized network, SBC Ontario offers local services, events, locations and e-learning in one web portal, www.sbcontario.ca, to increase awareness and access to supports available for small businesses as they recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.
