The program includes nine weeks of trainings form city officials, academics and local business owners. Participants learned about everything form zoning laws to grant opportunities.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The first session of the Springfield Minority Business Institute is officially completed. The program has been in the works for months, and classes finally began earlier this year. 

The program includes nine weeks of trainings form city officials, academics and local business owners. Participants learned about everything form zoning laws to grant opportunities. 

"I wanted to go down a different path and I wanted a new direction, but I didn't know where to start," Felicia McCool said. "I went in wanting to learn everything so I could know my next steps." 

Many graduates were like McCool, who went into the experience with a business plan, but not solid next steps.

Other participants, like Robert Frazier, had been entrepreneurs for a while. He left his corporate job in 2000 and began pursuing his own businesses. 

"Obviously, being an entrepreneur for so many years, I know a lot of it," Frazier said. "But there's always something that you can learn and when a door opens, you definitely go in it." 

Frazier is excited to see what the Springfield area could look like in the coming years with all of the education community members are receiving. 

Ethan Posey, director of community relations for the City of Springfield, led the charge for the new initiative. He already has a waiting list of people wanting to join the next session of the institute. 

One point of pride for him was what participants received in relation to the cost of the program. 

"We paid a total of $17.24 for this entire program, and that was just for the graduation certificate holders," Posey said. "Multiple community members came together and made this happen for the people." 

Two participants in the program embroidered the stoles for graduation, and another participants' motorcycle club sponsored food for the graduation. Community members who spoke to the group weren't paid, and instead provided their insight for free. 

Posey said they plan to launch more sessions of the institute, but are still reviewing the curriculum to ensure it works as well as possible. He wants to ensure they are still supporting graduates as well as they can before starting with more classes.  

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