Entrepreneurship Fair scheduled for Feb.

VW independent/submitted information

The ninth annual Entrepreneurship Fair will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, February 3, in the Community Room of Vantage Career Center.

Organizers of the event include the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation, Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Van Wert, and the Business Enterprise Center at Wright State University-Lake Campus.

Area residents who dream of starting a business are encouraged to attend this free event, which offers a wide variety of assistance, counseling, and information to promising entrepreneurs and emerging new businesses. There will be speakers on a number of topics, including financing and financial incentives, and how to start a new business. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a roundtable discussion that includes experts in banking, legal issues, accounting, insurance, real estate, and marketing.

Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. that day, with a panel of entrepreneurs scheduled to share their journey at 9 that morning.

The Entrepreneur Fair also serves as a kick-off to the Business Plan Challenge. As part of the challenge, people who want to start a business create, submit, and present a business plan to a panel of judges for the chance to win money toward business development funds. The award will be presented in April, which allows people to do the necessary research, attend free business counseling sessions provided locally by Wright State’s Business Enterprise Center.

Those looking for the opportunity to start a new business and to participate in the Business Plan Challenge should call Krista Somerton at the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation office, 419.238.2999.