Entrepreneurship for Single Parents & Minorities (ESPM) Program, supervised by Joy Kipp, LSW, project coordinator and volunteer speakers. ESPM is one part of the Fargo Housing & Redevelopment Authority's Self-Sufficiency Program. ESPM offers free business classes to help participants develop their own businesses. It was created to encourage and professionally train single parents, minorities and low-income entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams of owning a small business and most importantly understanding what it takes to be an employer. [img_assist|nid=21|title=ESPM Photo 1|desc=The ESPM class hard at work.|link=none|align=center|width=336|height=184] ESPM began in 1992 and offers a seminar style class that provides participants with the knowledge and encouragement they need to start and run their own business. Each session covers a specific business topic, ranging from marketing to financing. The sessions are taught by local business leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and economic development service providers who volunteer their time to speak about their particular area of expertise.

What sets this program apart from similar models is it’s recognition of the non-business related factors that may hinder an entrepreneur’s success. Motivational presentations, which focus on empowerment, networking, business etiquette, and dressing for success, provide the tools needed for becoming a successful entrepreneur. Business classes are free and open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

[img_assist|nid=22|title=ESPM Photo 2|desc=The class displays their certificates.|link=none|align=center|width=333|height=184] The 2010 ESPM Course Outline is available here: