The STAR program is a unique concept which brings technical assistance and resources that have been lacking from other state or local programs to a specific ethnic merchant group. SAMA will establish a Statewide Technical Assistance & Resource Program (STAR) specifically developed to meet specialized technology needs of growing Latino business community in the Connecticut areas of Danbury, Hartford and Waterbury areas.
The training program, which will run twice a year in each community, will introduce automation through technology by providing basic computer training to include; Point of Sale Program and MS Office, and training on the QuickBooks financial management program, specifically targeting Latino business owners. The STAR Program is intended for Latino merchants who lack sophistication and understanding of the complexities of today’s ever changing business environment and who have fallen behind the technological gap. STAR’s main emphasis is to reach out to those businesses that have not been able to progress due to language barriers, ethnicity, location, sophistication, and knowledge and provide them with basics required to begin to automate their business operations. All services & training will be offered in a bi-lingual format.
Consequently, the STAR staff will be bi-lingual, with a deep understanding of various communities, its people and their needs. Each STAR training location will have available computer equipment, software and internet access appropriate to the training. Training sites will be located in or near targeted communities. Participating merchants will have access to staff, as well as a library of business plans, applications and information related to area loan funds.
Students will have a formal graduation following successful completion of the program. The success of the program will be, measured by the numbers of graduates from the training program who continue to use computers and QuickBooks with the six months following the conclusion of the training. A follow up will be concluded within 180 days to document continued use of the fundamentals learned in the training.
The STAR Program Curriculum:
Computer/QuickBooks training: A ten week training program will focus on introduction of computers & related technology, training on the basics of computers use, introduction of Microsoft office, Energy efficiency, and training on the use of computers in daily business life. Training will focus on the practical use and understanding of QuickBooks, a business accounting program, to include use of accounts receivable, purchases, payments, inventory, payroll, and accounts reconciliation. Participants will meet once a week for a 3 hours training class. One-on-one technical assistance will be provided as needed immediately before and after each week’s training program as needed.
For information please contact jobana_maldonado@samact.org
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