City offers classes for local business community

In less than a week the first class to improve business owners kicks off at the Old Post Office, home of the Young Entrepreneurs Collective and the city of Fallon’s Co-Working Space.

Abbi Whitaker, who with her husband, Ty, own the Abbi Agency in Reno, spoke at Wednesday’s breakfast meeting, the Churchill Economic Development Authority’s monthly gathering of business owners and leaders in Churchill County.

Abbi Whitaker Holtom, a Churchill County High School and University of Nevada, Reno graduate, has been assisting the city for six years by promoting Fallon and the surrounding area.

“One of our aims is to help businesses to grown,” she told about 60 people.

One of the ways is through the YEC, which celebrated its start in late March with both Gov. Brian Sandoval and Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford speaking to attendees.

The program’s goal at the inaugural meeting was to introduce the YEC, a group bringing business owners and entrepreneurs together to collaborate on projects benefiting the community and entire entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“The city wanted to encourage small business owners and then offer them resources,” Whitaker said. “The city is there to help nurture and move along businesses.”

In months leading up to late March, Whitaker said the city created workspace, printers, computers and magazines for use and for other businesses people to work together and share expertise and ideas.

Whitaker said Reno has set up offices for sharing space, but nothing had been done for the rural areas until Fallon launched its YEC.

For the first six months, Whitaker said the cost to join is free with the city sponsoring individuals who are interested in using the facilities for the next six months.

The first major undertaking is offering six classes in June and July that cover a wide range of topics useful to the business community.

The first round of classes include the following”

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Social Media for Businesses

Wednesday, July 1, 6:30 p.m. Email Marketing for Businesses

Wednesday, July 8, 6:30 p.m. How to Create a Business Website

Wednesday, July 15, 6:30 p.m. Design 101 for Businesses

Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m. How to Write a Press Release

Wednesday, July 29, 6:30 p.m. Networking 101 for Business Owners

So far, Whitaker said each class, which will be held at the Old Post Office on North Maine Street, has 10 people enrolled.

Whitaker said the first class next week will focus on different social media to promote and market businesses.

Attendees will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the scheduled classes. Whitaker said the value of each class is about $200.

To attend the mixer and sign up for classes, email CityofFallon@gmail.com.

To learn more about the Fallon YEC, contact Valerie Lightfoot at Val@ci.fallon.nv.us or call 775-423-3040.