Amazon Small Business Academy coming to LCCC NEO LaunchNET

Lorain County Community College NEO LaunchNET will host the third Amazon Small Business Academy event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 28, in the Spitzer Conference Center, 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria.

LCCC is only one of seven community colleges across the U.S. where the academy is being established, according to an LCCC news release.

This free event for aspiring and current small business owners is a chance for them to learn how to start and grow a business online.

It will show how to use the internet to reach millions of customers, build brand recognition and grow their business.

There will be “how-to” advice and insights from several local small business owners currently selling on Amazon.

Nick Denissen, vice president of small business at Amazon, is the featured presenter.

“We’re really excited to be bringing the Amazon Small Business Academy to local entrepreneurs and businesses,” said LCCC President Marcia Ballinger. “This is a perfect fit with our Vision 2025 strategic plan to help improve the economic competitiveness of our region.”

Amazon Small Business Academy classes will begin in March at LCCC.

Adding this academy to LCCC’s non credit offerings is a way to elevate the skills of the workforce as the economy shifts, Ballinger said.

Students receive a certificate of completion and access to exclusive on-line content.

“Our goal is to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship,” Ballinger said. “By leveraging our facilities and services with a national training program from Amazon, we can help foster new growth in our local economy.”

The classes will cover the fundamentals of online business strategies, marketing, merchandising, inventory management and more.

The curriculum will provide 16 hours of beginner, intermediate and advanced content.

The content was created in collaboration with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship.

LCCC is one of two lead schools in the Association. The other is North Idaho College in Coeur dÁlene, Idaho.