The REAL Road to Business Success

The EDGE Center in a team effort with the Florida Small Business Development Center Network and the Florida Atlantic University are excited to offer the business community of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay with a unique 'active learning' program for individuals interested in starting or expanding a small business in rural areas of southern Florida.

Participants in this comprehensive, hands-on course will learn to:

• identify and develop necessary business skills
• search and locate small business opportunities in the community
• prepare a winning business plan ( including a marketing plan and financial projections)

A Community Support Team of local professionals, bankers, attorneys, and CPA's will participate in the Course. Participant who complete this course with a minimum of 7 classes attended out of 8 with receive a certificate of continuing education credits.

This course will begin on May 3, at 6-9PM and will be offered every Thursday evening or 8 weeks. This course is open to the first 15 people to register.

Call early to reserve a seat.Registrations for this course will not be accepted after May 2, 2007. The fee for this 8 week course will be $10.00 All fees for training at the EDGE Center are tax deductible. CONTACT: Jim Lilly (863)840-2279 or Javier Tejada (561)993-3343

EDGE Launches ONLINE Auction May 1,2007

The Board of Directors(Betty Boyer, Douglas Green, Reggie O'Connor, Mary Lee Hickson, Samantha Murray, Liz Cayson) and Suzanne Harper, Executive Director at the EDGE Center, a non-profit business resource center in Belle Glade, Florida have developed a new community project and are blazing new paths for fund raising in the Glades to make the project a success.

The project is called the Youth Entrepreneur Success program or Y.E.S. for short.

The program is designed as an after school program for age 15 and older, high school or pre-college students. The program will be offered as and addition to the Life Strategies course at PBCC in conjunction with duel enrollment with Glades Central High School. The program gives students direction on what they will need to do to become successful as a business owner and what courses they will need to pursue. The additional benefit of this program will be to help decrease the drop out rate in Western Palm Beach County and to give our children hope.

The program consists of four business categories: Small Business and you, Business Planning, Marketing and Pricing, Finances and Cash Flow Projections will be studied using a computerized program that tests and after completion of the 20 hour course a certificate will be issued that will be honored toward scholarships. In addition the EDGE Center will introduce mentors to assist the exceptional and self motivated students to start a business of their own.

The program will be held at the EDGE Center facilities at 241 W Ave A. The facility is currently only able to assist 10 students a week. Each student will be allowed to progress at their own pace and will be assisted with computer skills and reading comprehension.

To make this project a Success The EDGE needs to raise $2,000,000 over the next four years. to build a new incubator facility in Western Palm Beach County to house the new businesses that will be created because of the Y.E.S. program. The 10 new businesses will employ a minimum of 50 employees. Which in turn will create 25 additional jobs in the community. In addition the funds will also be used to buy equipment and pay for the programing that will be used in the program. Only 10% will be used for administration.

How are we going to raise the funds needed to fund this project?
From 2007-2010 we will hold 3 online auctions a year with the last auction ending at the Annual Entrepreneur of the Years Banquet. The Auctions will be in May, Oct, and Jan ending on FEB 7 annually. The Schedule will be published on the blog and sent out by email.

The Banquet will be a rewarding and motivational event for all that participate in this project.

These Auctions are going to last 30 days and will be marketed via newspaper, radio, TV, Flyer's, Email, Snail Mail, Websites, Blogs, Forums, and word of mouth.

This is a win-win project because when you participate by donating to this cause you don't only help the community you help yourself as well.

How can you be a part of this very beneficial project?

If you own a business you could donate a service (example-offer to clean a house for a month, provide lawn mowing for a month) if you are a retailer you could donate a shopping spree, or dinner for 10, or a weeks vacation, or you can sponsor an item that is in our catalog. You can also donate cash or antiques, or overstocked inventory. We also have sponsorship spots on the front page of the Auction available.
Just remember all donations are deductible from your tax returns.

The best part of this is you will receive FREE MARKETING for your business or organization while helping your community.

Our pre-auction site is ready for you to preview, to start making your donations and to sign up to bid. Join with us and your community to be a part of the solution.

DONATE AN ITEM

Call us today for complete details on how to become a Charter Sponsor

561-993-3343

#1 Secret to Wealth

April 11, 2007

FREE Seminar

Learn How You Can Reduce Your Taxes to the Legal Minimum

10Am-Noon at Work Force Alliance on S Main St, Belle Glade

6PM-8PM at The EDGE Center at 241 W Ave A, Belle Glade

SPECIAL ALERT to Home-Based Business Owners...
Congress has passed laws giving THOUSANDS of DOLLARS in Tax REFUNDS and Tax DEDUCTIONS to average Americans who operate a legitimate home-based business – even a part time business – as long as they can prove they’re trying to make a profit.

These are NOT “loopholes,” or “tax dodges” or “tax avoidance schemes.”
They are legitimate tax breaks...
Authorized by Congress,
Published in the IRS Code, and/or
Approved by Federal Tax Court Rulings
Congress passed these tax laws to encourage home-based businesses because “Small business is the backbone of the American economy,” according to President George W. Bush.
The average American who runs even a part-time home-based business can now qualify for more tax advantages than any other category of taxpayer.
Why the big tax breaks for home-business owners???
Because 70% of the job growth is coming from small businesses, and Congress is “betting” that some of us will hit on a winner, strike it rich, and, then, pay a LOT in taxes. Of course we won't mind so much if we have to pay a lot in taxes if we're making a boatload of profits, right?
You can even qualify for these deductions retroactively! Most of the tax deductions and write-offs now available to taxpayers who run a small or home-based business, also apply to the past three tax years. So if you had a home-business in any of the past three years, you could file an Amended Tax Return (Form 1040X), and possibly get a Refund Check for THOUSANDS of DOLLARS – plus interest!

A NEW Home BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

will be offered from

2PM-4PM at Work Force Alliance Conference Room

This event is sponsored by Taihitian Nooni.

Call 561-993-3343 to reserve a seat.

The support given by the EDGE to this activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s or participant’s opinion, products, or services.