In an effort to assist existing entrepreneurs, Coastal Carolina University's Small Business Development Center is partnering with other area economic development organizations to introduce a series of professional seminars called FastTrac Growth Venture beginning in May 2008. The program includes facilitated discussions and activities, networking, small peer groups, guest speakers and coaching sessions.

Three-hour classes will be held weekly each Tuesday between May 13 and July 15 at the Conway Chamber of Commerce, which is co-sponsoring the FastTrac program along with CCU's Small Business Development Center and Clemson University's Institute for Economic and Community Development.

"Not many entrepreneurs have started and run successful companies previously, so they are hungry for the kind of training and mentoring that FastTrac offers," said Conway Chamber Executive Director Bridgette Johnson. "In our work to help entrepreneurs commercialize their products, we knew this program would provide the educational component we needed to help business owners improve their changes for success."

More than 300,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the FastTrac program, which was developed by the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. South Carolina has graduated more than 600 FastTrac participants.

To learn more about the program, including registration and fee information, visit www.fasttracsc.org or contact Janet Graham of CCU's Small Business Development Center at 843-349-4010 or e-mail jpgraham@coastal.edu.