Welcome To Our Small Business Training Institute
The Community Economic Development Fund is committed to utilizing a holistic approach to support Connecticut small business growth.
Our Small Business Training Institute was established in 2008 to provide classroom training to small business owners on key issues critical to running a small business, as well as, ongoing offerings on a variety of topics necessary to maintain a competitive edge for you and your business success. Training is offered at several locations throughout the state three times per year. 
CEDF clients are strongly encouraged to participate in our training classes. Loan clients receive a discounted rate on our classes. They also receieve a reduce interest rate on their Standard, Grow Your Business or SBA Micro loan when they complete the Understanding Business Finances and Tax Related Issues Class (reduction of 0.25% off interest rate ) and the QuickBooks Class (reduction of 0.25% off interest rate) for up to a combined total of half a percent ( total reduction 0.50% off interest rate).*
2013 Classes Offered
Example of some of our one night class offerings include but are not limited to the following.
Dates and times will be posted on future classes as they are scheduled.
Facebook: The Business Edition! With more than 500 million users, Facebook is a communication and marketing tool that business / non-profits can’t afford to ignore.
Public Relations Are you interested in getting free media coverage to support your small business, but not sure how to go about it? Learn how to write, distribute and follow-up on press releases,how to initiate and maintain media relations that bring a fair return to your business, and how to optimize releases for on-line media.
How to Use Marketing to Profitably Generate More Leads for Your Business Includes tips on how to develop a strong hook for your products, ways to overcome buyers’ concerns in purchasing your products, how to build a great marketing campaign producing many leads, simple steps to writing ads that sell, common advertising errors to avoid, secrets to having your own unlimited marketing budget, ways to profitably market your products, how to increase profits using marketing time vs. service time, and how to get more leads from your networking.
Employees vs. Contractors Understanding the Law and the Implications for Your Business The latest on employee classification provides information on what every small business owner needs to understand about the difference between employees and contracted staff. Connecticut law has changed and the implications can be significant for small businesses that misclassify employees.
Loan Application Seminars Loan sessions assist potential borrowers to navigate the application process. The loan sessions are interactive and designed to answer questions and provide an opportunity to meet with lenders for personal assistance. If you are interested in applying for funds through CEDF in the coming months, you may want to sign up for a free session. Please email Marie Dumas at m.dumas@cedf.com to confirm your attendance. We hope to see you soon!
If you have any questions, please call Nancy Gray at (888) 835-2333 ext. 2040.
Training workshops sponsored by CEDF in cooperation with Community Accounting Aid& Services (CAAS), Webster Bank, Citizens Bank, and Union Savings Bank.
*Effective 4/5/11-A quarter of a percent (0.25%) reduction will be earned for completion of Understanding Business Finances and Tax Related Issues to Maximize Your Small Business Profit and QuickBooks classes only, up to a maximum incentive reduction of (0.50%) provided each class is fully attended by the borrower. Effective 8/10/2009, Commercial Mortgage Loans will NO LONGER be able to take advantage of the interest rate reduction for the completion of training classes. The Small Business Institute training courses are offered in 3 cycles (spring, fall, winter). Interest rate reductions for CEDF loan clients will be applied within 45 days of completion of a training course. If a CEDF loan client is registered for more than one course during any cycle, the interest rate reductions will be applied within 45 days of completion of the last course. Borrowers in the DECD 4% loan program are not eligible for interest rate reductions for the DECD portion of their loan. One night seminars and forums to not qualify borrowers for interest rate reductions.
