FRESNO COUNTY – As the calendar turns to the new year, Fresno Pacific University’s Center for Community Transformation is launching a new program to foster local entrepreneurs and small business owners across Reedley and Selma. 

Through the program Rural Ignite Business Accelerator, CCT plans to offer five specialized tracks that look to help equip small business and nonprofit leaders strengthen operations, build financial clarity and implement growth systems. These five tracks are titled: business finance foundations, culinary pathways, sales through service, branding/marketing/message and nonprofit catalyst. 

“Through focused accelerator courses, participants will gain actionable strategies, expert mentorship and a collaborative network to drive measurable impact,” the course description states. 

Bryan Feil, associate director of CCT and instructor of the business finance foundations, said in a statement that he hopes that it fosters business growth in the Central Valley. 

“This program is continuing the work that we are already doing in rural communities,” Feil said. “Those who participate will leave with practical tools and resources to apply to their business. They’ll gain one-on-one support and will build a business community to feel heard and valued in.”

These accelerator courses will be free and open to any who would like to attend. These courses will be offered on location in Reedley and Selma as well as virtually online over the next eight months. The courses will be taught in Reedley from January through April, then in Selma from March through June and then online from June through September. 

As described on the CCT’s website, the business finance foundations course is meant to help local entrepreneurs and small business owners understand their costs, revenue and cash flow so that they can make smarter business decisions. This track looks to teach financial literacy and forecasting tools to plan ahead and grow sustainably. 

The culinary pathways track is designed for food entrepreneurs that are looking to grow as the track aims to walk them through business planning, compliance and scaling from both home-based operations to retail or restaurant ventures. 

The sales through service is designed to equip people to serve with excellence, sell with empathy and grow through teamwork and feedback. 

The branding/marketing/message track looks to help local entrepreneurs and small business owners gain clarity on their audience, refine their message and use effective digital tools to connect with their ideal customers. 

And the nonprofit catalyst track looks to teach nonprofit leaders how to clarify their purpose, build partnerships and create lasting systems that help their organization thrive. 

The courses in Reedley will be held at the MCC Global Center at 1012 G. St. from 6 to 8 p.m. The business foundations course will be held Wednesdays from Jan. 14 through Feb. 4, the culinary course will take place Mondays from Jan. 12 through Feb. 2 and the sales through service course will take place Wednesdays from Feb. 11 through March 4. The branding track will be taught Thursdays starting on Feb. 12 all the way through March 5, and then the nonprofit course will be held every Wednesday from March 11 through April 1. 

The program will teach its courses in Selma at the Hills Church at 2025 Grant St. from 6 to 8 p.m. The business finance foundations course will be taught Mondays from March 23 through April 13, the culinary course on Mondays from March 26 through April 16 and the sales through service track on Mondays from April 20 through May 11. The marketing course will take place Thursdays from April 23 through May 14 and the nonprofit track will be held Thursdays from May 21 through June 11. 

If anyone is not able to take the in-person courses in Reedley or Selma, they can take the virtual sessions from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom. The business finance foundations track will take place Mondays from June 16 through July 7, the culinary course will be held Thursdays from June 18 through July 9, the sales through service class on Tuesdays from July 14 through Aug. 4, the marketing course on Thursdays from July 16 through Aug. 6 and the nonprofit track on Wednesdays from Aug. 12 through Sept. 2.