CNNMoney: Training entrepreneurs to save cities

By Sheena Harrison

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- In the midst of a struggling economy, the Small Business Administration is hoping to create jobs and generate wealth in hard-hit urban communities by boosting small-business growth through its Emerging 200 initiative.

The six-month program, which launched last year and began its second session a month ago, aims to provide training to small-business owners in 15 major metropolitan areas that have experienced flat or negative job growth rates in recent years. Initially intended to train 200 entrepreneurs per session, the program has attracted enough interest that around 215 companies have been accepted for 2009.

The project's goal is to provide talented entrepreneurs with the skills and contacts they need to grow their companies and create more jobs in their communities. (more)