MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MINORITY BUSINESSES There are a number of organizations which offer business planning and business management assistance specifically targeted to businesses owned and operated by racial minorities, women, disabled individuals, and other socially or economically disadvantaged persons. A listing of these organizations can be found in the Resource Directory section of this Guide. INCUBATORS Sometimes called enterprise centers, innovation centers or business and technology centers, incubators offer new, small firms a way to minimize both fixed and variable costs by providing low cost office and production space, shared office services, management assistance and – in some cases – financial assistance. A listing of these organizations can be found in the Resource Directory section of this Guide. INVENTORS RESOURCES Resources include The Inventors’ Network, LegalCORPS Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) (free legal representation to low-income inventors seeking to patent their innovations with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Depository Office, Inventors Assistance Center (IAC). A listing of these organizations can be found in the Resource Directory section of this Guide. MINNESOTA STATE All colleges and universities within the Minnesota State system provide programs for small business owners. These programs range from the certificate level to the master’s degree. Some programs are focused on comprehensive business management such as the business marketing and management (A.A.S. degree) and the business administration master’s degree. Other programs contain a number of courses which small business owners or those intending to become small business owners would find useful. In addition to the above programs which result in an academic credential, Minnesota State’s community and technical colleges also offer a large variety of non-credit workshops and seminars worthwhile to small business owners. These educational opportunities are available either through open enrollment to the public or through customized contracts with individual business.
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