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Planters Bank has announced the seven participants from downtown small businesses chosen to join in a four month improvement training and community reinvention program.
Officials say the Community Reinvention Program, conducted by Jon Schallert with The Schallert Group, begins by sending six small business owners and one coordinator from the same marketplace to a Destination Bootcamp in Longmont, Colorado from March 30-April 2 where they will receive instruction on how to make their businesses consumer destinations, capable of pulling customers from outside their immediate marketplace.
For four months following the Destination Bootcamp, business owners receive ongoing consulting assistance through conference calls, an onsite visit, and a 90 minute workshop open to the community.
The local participants are Kiley Killebrew, Owner of J. Schrecker Jewelry; Griffin Moore, Owner of Griffin’s Studio; Drew Howes, Store Manager of Bella Marie Boutique; DeeAnna Sova, Member of the Hopkinsville Art Guild; Heather Dawson, Co-owner of The Mixer; Joey Merdeiros, Co-owner of the Hopkinsville Brewing Company; and Holly Boggess, Downtown Renaissance Director.
Planters Bank Community Reinvestment Act Officer Jennifer Maddux says in a news release, “We are excited that these business owners have made the commitment to learn not only about making their own shops and restaurants successful, but also about cross marketing efforts that will make downtown Hopkinsville a destination for shopping and eating throughout our region.”
The program tuition is $1,700 per person and Planters Bank is providing funding for the seven participants to attend, for a total cost of $11,900.