MEO’s Business Development Program held a Core Four Bankers Graduation Luncheon for nine graduating students from the Core Four Business Planning course on Feb. 20. County Managing Director Keith Regan (back row, right) and West Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran (seated, center) attended the event.

WAILUKU – MEO’s Business Development Program held a Core Four Bankers Graduation Luncheon for nine graduating students from the Core Four Business Planning course on Feb. 20.

County Managing Director Keith Regan and West Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran both gave congratulations to the group and offered very encouraging words to the graduates on the benefits of being a small business owner and the positive impact that small businesses have on our Maui economy.

Maui County Business Resource Center Director Karen Arakawa was also in attendance and spoke individually to many of the graduates.

At the graduation, the soon-to-be entrepreneurs received one-on-one guidance from local commercial bankers from First Hawaiian Bank, Central Pacific Bank and Bank of Hawaii. The students’ business plans and ideas were reviewed and discussed with suggestions and guidance for launching a successful business.

The graduating students received a Certificate of Achievement and a congratulatory lunch.

MEO Business Development Center’s Core Four Business Planning is a 36-hour course on how and why you write a business plan while providing real time information on what you need to know to start, operate and grow a successful business in Maui County.

To learn more about the entrepreneurial training course, call 249-2990. The next Core Four course series will be held in the evenings.

One hour introductory classes will be held at MEO’s Family Center on Feb. 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. and at the Maui County Business Resource Center in Maui Mall on Feb. 28 from noon to 1 p.m.

The six-week series begins on Tuesday evening, March 6, from 6 to 9 p.m. and runs two days a week through April 12. The course cost is $300 with scholarships available.

Registration for the six-week series can be done at the introductory classes or any weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MEO’s Family Center. Funding from the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development helps to make the Core Four Business Planning classes possible.