Program helps turn dreams into reality
From VirginiaBusiness.com
To the Editor,
The FastTrac class is designed to help participants create a business plan and to test the feasibility of that business before it is launched ["Hope despite hard time," February issue]. I was enrolled in the same FastTrac class with Darla [Main-Schneider, a former manufacturing manager who started a bakery in Martinsville]. Lisa Fultz (now Lisa Wilson) provided wonderful support, encouraging us as we imagined and created our business plans.
Darla started the class when we were almost halfway done, and worked extra long hours to catch up with the rest of us.
She makes some awesome bagels and delicious artisan breads. I really admire her entrepreneurial spirit!
My dream is to create a profitable bed-and-breakfast enterprise that would help support eco-tourism and welcome new residents to our community. I've met some fascinating people, and we actually made a profit last year!
Our region is very fortunate to have such wonderful leaders and organizations that facilitate and empower citizens who have lost jobs and need guidance.
Thanks, Lisa, for creating such a nurturing environment and introducing us to some great community professionals to support our dreams. And thanks, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. staff members. I appreciate all of you.
Lynn Pritchett
Martinsville
