DEMOPOLIS &8212; While industrial and retail growth in the Black Belt have been historically slow, research shows the spirit of entrepreneurship in rural areas is increasing across the nation. An upcoming seminar at Alabama Southern will address this in hopes of helping small business owners.

In partnership with University of West Alabama&8217;s Small Business Development Center, they will offer a 12-week course for small business owners to help develop a strong business plan and give them the tools to grow their existing business beginning on Feb. 4.

The program was done in Livingston in 2006, and they are in the last two weeks of a similar program in Eutaw, he said. In addition to focusing on developing a business plan, other topics for the course include marketing, how to manage finances and cash flow.

Another focus for the course is teaching entrepreneurs how to be both persistent and creative with funds and resources, which he said are limited in this area.

Just a few of the clients they have served in the past include restaurateurs, cleaning services, nurseries and trucking businesses, but McCarter said the course is not limited to any one kind of business owner.

Angelia Mance, president of Alabama Southern, said she is pleased to welcome this course, known as the NxLevel curriculum, to their campus.

Mance continued by saying entrepreneurship would really be the key for growth in the Black Belt, and course offerings such as this were key in helping to promote that growth.

The courses will be offered from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Alabama Southern Community College Demopolis campus beginning on Feb. 4. The course fee is $200, which covers textbooks and handouts.

If you would like more information contact Donald Mills at 205-652-3665 or dmills@uwa.edu.