Talbot Works Business Academy’s second cohort co

The Talbot Works Business Academy’s inaugural participants gather on the courthouse lawn to celebrate their graduation, with program facilitator Will Holmes taking a selfie. The second cohort of the Talbot Works Business Academy begins Sept. 10, with limited participation for Talbot County small and minority business owners. (Photo courtesy of Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism)

Daily Record Staff//June 27, 2024//

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The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism will launch its second cohort of Talbot Works Business Academy this fall, with the free program limited to 15 participants.

Applications for the program due by Aug. 1.

The Talbot Works Business Academy was launched in early 2024 with support from the Maryland Rural Economic Development Fund and is a free online business training program that helps Talbot County’s small and minority businesses succeed and grow.

The eight-week program begins Sept. 10 and meets via Zoom each Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. with graduation scheduled for Oct. 29. Small business owners who have operated for at least two years and have a revenue of less than $1.5 million are eligible to apply.

The program was developed by business management and technology consulting firm Will Holmes Consulting, a Baltimore-based company that offers business capital, coaching, and operational solutions to emerging companies. It has been implemented successfully at Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University and the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as Anne Arundel and Charles counties.

Session topics include building sustainable organizational infrastructure; leading people and planning for growth; marketing and selling B2G, B2B, and B2C; accounting, human resources, legal, taxes and insurance as well as preparing for capital and essential financial documentation.

To qualify for the program, participants must own a business in Talbot County and have the ability to scale their operations, hire people and have a positive impact on their community. Applicants who are selected for this cohort will be invited to a short interview via Zoom.

To graduate from the program, participants must attend and participate in each class; submit weekly homework assignments before the next class, meet with senior advisers each week, meet two times with each of their law, accounting and human resources mentors, present cash flow projections, give a practice presentation and give a final 15-minute PowerPoint presentation.