The Concept
The Southeast Innovation Center has had amazing success in helping individuals start new businesses with its Operation Jump-Start and Operation Bootstrap programs. Because of that amazing success, Southeast Missouri State University President, Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, teamed with the Student Government Association (SGA) to sponsor the Student Entrepreneurship Program administered by the Southeast Innovation Center. The training course that has helped launch more than 100 small businesses through Jump-Start and Bootstrap is called First Step FastTrac,designed by the Kauffman Foundation. Students completing the 36-hour course (deemed "Southeast Apprentice") will be competing for mini-grants in order to start their own small businesses. These grants are given based on the business plan the student submits at the end of the course, and is awarded by a committee independent of Southeast Missouri State University.

The Impact
"Southeast Apprentice" is the first of its kind at Southeast Missouri State University and may be one of the first of its kind in the nation. "Southeast Apprentice" will give hands-on training to those who wish to find out what small business ownership is all about. The local community will be positively impacted by the new small businesses.

The Details
Flyers will be posted around campus as well as information provided in the Capaha Arrow. The Rules and Application form is available online.