Syracuse Course Helps Aspiring Business Owners Open a Food Business Within the City

A recent story by Spectrum News highlights the efforts of CenterState CEO's Start It! for Food Business course. The 12-week program, delivered in partnership with the Allyn Family Foundation, teaches basic food business skills, including how to write a business plan and seek a loan.

Andy Obernesser, the organizer of the program and director of community investment at CenterState CEO, said the idea is to take an all-encompassing approach.

“Understanding some of the things that are in front of them in terms of financing, in terms of permitting, in terms of the other types of business services that they’re going to need in order to be successful,” he said.

Statistics on how tough it is to start a restaurant business are mixed; experts say one common figure in industry lore says 90% will fail in the first year, but studies don’t support that.

Read the entire Spectrum News story.