FastTrac programs are growing nationwide.

“FastTrac programs are not only growing in the areas where INNOVA has offered them in the past, but they’re also expanding to different geographic areas,” said Greg Clutter, director of commercialization with the West Virginia High Technology Consortium (WVHTC) Foundation.

The FastTrac GrowthVenture entrepreneurial and business education program is coming to Beckley beginning Sept. 5, Clutter said.

“This will be our second program in Beckley, and we’re quite proud that our first Beckley FastTrac class spun off into the Entrepreneurship Alliance Inc.,” Clutter said.

INNOVA is the statewide administrating body for FastTrac programs in West Virginia. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City is a national partner of FastTrac and a supporter of FastTrac programs in West Virginia.

“FastTrac GrowthVenture targets people involved in existing enterprises who want to improve the performance of their businesses,” Clutter explained. “The program features content and action steps to help these businesspeople sharpen their strategic thinking and decision-making skills as they plan for the growth of their businesses.”

Clutter said program participants complete the course with a business plan, entrepreneurial strategies and a vision for success.

“FastTrac is a comprehensive entrepreneurship-educational program that provides entrepreneurs with business insights, leadership skills and professional networking connections so they are prepared to create a new business or expand an existing enterprise,” he said. “The FastTrac program includes practical, hands-on business development programs and workshops for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as entrepreneurship curriculum for college students.”

Clutter said FastTrac is designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow successful businesses.

“Focused on the growth of early stage West Virginia companies, INNOVA delivers technical assistance and seed stage capital in addition to FastTrac,” he said. “INNOVA’s introduction of FastTrac in early 2004 marked West Virginia as the 42nd state to offer the Kauffman Foundation program.”

FastTrac is currently offered in 49 states and on three continents. More than 165,000 participants have completed FastTrac programs in the U.S. over the past decade, Clutter added.

“In addition to offering FastTrac GrowthVenture programs, our plans are to continue to also offer FastTrac “Listening to Your Business” half-day workshops throughout West Virginia,” said Patrick Gregg, FastTrac statewide administrator and WVHTC Foundation outreach manager. “All of these FastTrac programs have generated a lot of interest because they provide significant and beneficial tools to the entrepreneurial and business communities, and we want to continue that momentum in our state.”

Gregg says that people who have participated in FastTrac programs in West Virginia have said the knowledge they gained and the overall experience was invaluable.

“These programs are having an incredibly positive effect,” he said.

“Listening to Your Business” programs are offered at a nominal cost, Gregg said.

“GrowthVenture programs cost less than the average college course and qualifying participants may obtain scholarships that pay for half of the program,” he said.

To register for FastTrac programs or for further information, contact Deana Keener at gdkeener@wvhtf.org or at 366-2577, ext. 264.

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