THE FOLLOWING IS A TREP SCHOOL RELEASE
The Trep School® has partnered with Vermilion Advantage to provide a new slate of sponsored training programs through Economic Empowerment Center grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Participants will complete a 360° Business Assessment workshop and personalized 1-on-1 business development planning sessions. The program also includes the 10-week Money Smart for Small Business series developed by the FDIC and SBA and taught by a facilitator from Old National Bank.
The next Business Assessment workshop is scheduled in person Thursday April 24 at 6 p.m. The Money Smart series begins online on Tuesday, April 29 at 6 p.m. Business development planning sessions are scheduled with each individual participant.
“We’re excited to have a Financial Empowerment professional coming from Old National Bank headquarters in Indianapolis to facilitate the Money Smart curriculum,” said Alderwoman and Vice-Mayor Tricia Teague, the CEO and founder of The Trep School®. “Dozens of local businesses started or solidified their existing operations through the training they received in our Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp. Now many are experiencing growing pains. The additional education we’re providing will help them scale.”
The Economic Empowerment Center (EEC) is being housed at Soar Space Business Center, a coworking and training space in Towne Centre/Riverfront Plaza at 2 E. Main Street and also owned by Teague. The EEC programming targets disadvantaged business enterprises and very small businesses in the area.
With a program period that extends through spring 2026, there are plans to provide additional programming beyond those scheduled in April. “We’ve already got monthly entrepreneur support and networking sessions on the calendar. We’re looking at speed mentoring, business enterprise certifications, and a host of additional programs,” Teague said. “More importantly, we’re filling a void in Danville after the DACC Small Business Development Center clients were told to go to Champaign for services.”
For more information about scheduled programs go to trepschool.ecenterdirect.com/events or contact The Trep School at 217-497-9227.
