http://www.blackenterprise.com/S0/PageOpen.asp?Source=Articles/03122002ktr.html
Historically Black College Makes More History
Langston University is first college to boast a Minority Business Development Center
By K. Terrell Reed
In three weeks students at Langston University (www.lunet.edu.), an historically black school in Oklahoma, will be better equipped than most students at other colleges to open a business directly after graduation.
Thanks to a $465,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (www.mbda.gov), Langston University will house one of only 40 national Minority Business Development Centers.
"It will be a real benefit to the students here at Langston University," says Sherman L. Lewis, associate administrator for extension and outreach programs. "It also will, hopefully, help us raise our profile and help us to attract more students."
Minority Business Development Centers are annually funded with $10 million from the federal government. Their general mission is to bring technical assistance to minority-owned firms based near the centers and to help entrepreneurs write and implement their business plans, locate financing, and help to find experienced mentors and advisors from the private sector.
Langston's center will also form a training academy for would-be entrepreneurs by offering courses in the rigors of running a business. The course will be offered to any of the 4,000 students on campus. In addition, several students from Langston's business school will be hired to work in the center.
Ronald N. Langston (no relationship to the university) is the national director of the Minority Business Development Agency. He says the services that the centers provide are essential to a company's start-up.
"We use those centers to help train people to become entrepreneurs," Langston says. "We know that one of the big problems for minority businesses is access to resources."
These centers are designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and success. "We take you to a bank and make sure your paperwork is all in order," Langston explains. "We may also take you to somebody who might be a mentor."
Historically Black College Makes More History
Langston University is first college to boast a Minority Business Development Center
By K. Terrell Reed
In three weeks students at Langston University (www.lunet.edu.), an historically black school in Oklahoma, will be better equipped than most students at other colleges to open a business directly after graduation.
Thanks to a $465,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (www.mbda.gov), Langston University will house one of only 40 national Minority Business Development Centers.
"It will be a real benefit to the students here at Langston University," says Sherman L. Lewis, associate administrator for extension and outreach programs. "It also will, hopefully, help us raise our profile and help us to attract more students."
Minority Business Development Centers are annually funded with $10 million from the federal government. Their general mission is to bring technical assistance to minority-owned firms based near the centers and to help entrepreneurs write and implement their business plans, locate financing, and help to find experienced mentors and advisors from the private sector.
Langston's center will also form a training academy for would-be entrepreneurs by offering courses in the rigors of running a business. The course will be offered to any of the 4,000 students on campus. In addition, several students from Langston's business school will be hired to work in the center.
Ronald N. Langston (no relationship to the university) is the national director of the Minority Business Development Agency. He says the services that the centers provide are essential to a company's start-up.
"We use those centers to help train people to become entrepreneurs," Langston says. "We know that one of the big problems for minority businesses is access to resources."
These centers are designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and success. "We take you to a bank and make sure your paperwork is all in order," Langston explains. "We may also take you to somebody who might be a mentor."
