Budding Charleston entrepreneurs to graduate from Clemson's FastTrac

Published: July 27, 2010

FastTrac image by: FastTrac

CHARLESTON — Clemson University’s Institute for Economic and Community Development and Lowcountry Local First will graduate the first Charleston class of the FastTrac Food and Farming business planning course.

The graduation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Clemson’s Charleston County Extension office, 259 Meeting St.

From farm hands and restaurant owners to a candle maker and a healthy foods school startup, 22 budding entrepreneurs and small business owners have spent the last nine weeks learning how to grow their companies into successful businesses.

Lowcountry Local First is an alliance that educates the public on the importance of supporting the local economy and encourages businesses and consumers to support environmental sustainability and be socially responsible.

The Food and Farming course was tailored for entrepreneurs interested in cultivating a stronger local food system.

The classes were facilitated by Will Culler with the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development at the Sandhill Research and Education Center in Columbia.

Culler is Clemson’s statewide representative of FastTrac, a coalition of education and business groups that helps entrepreneurs create, manage and grow successful businesses.

Such was the demand for this class that Culler hopes to offer similar courses next year in the Midlands and Upstate, and again in Charleston in the fall.

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