Capital One looking for MENTORS! Can you volunteer 1 hour a month?

Baton Rouge (August 4, 2011) – Capital One Bank today announced it is accepting applications for its Getting Down to Business small business development program in Baton Rouge. The free, seven-month program begins Sept. 27.

     Created by Capital One Bank, Getting Down to Business addresses the core needs of a small business. The program offers qualified business owners an opportunity to grow their businesses by increasing their knowledge of credit, budgeting, marketing, business plans, financing, accounting best practices, networking, insurance and much more. The program includes a matched savings component up to $2,000 that the business owners can use for operations, staffing or the purchase of supplies – upon completion of the program. In addition, participants are paired with knowledgeable professionals and volunteers who serve as mentors during the class sessions and for a year following the completion of the program.

     Getting Down to Business debuted in Baton Rouge last year, and the first class graduated in April of this year.

     The program’s 14-course, in-depth curriculum was developed by Capital One bankers and local partners that include ACCION Louisiana, Money Management International, the Southern University College of Business, the LSU Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute, and SENSE.

     The upcoming Getting Down to Business classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday beginning Sept. 27 at Capital One Bank’s Baton Rouge Downtown Office at 440 Third St., Baton Rouge, La., 70802.

     The program will be limited to 10 participants who will be selected through an application and interview process. For information on how to apply for the program and additional information about the curriculum, email Cheri Ausberry at cheri.ausberry@capitalonebank.com, or call her at 225-381-8636. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.

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SeNSE members, if you would like to volunteer 1-2 hours of your time each month to mentor the business owners in this program please email Sean Simone at sean.simone@sensebr.org