Beginning Oct. 8, the Schertz Economic Development Corp., the Small Business Develop-ment Center at UTSA and the Schertz Chamber of Commerce will be partnering to present a series of advanced courses designed to help provide the skills needed to strategically manage and grow a business.

This educational opportunity provides Schertz businesses the convenience to attend educational courses locally and further demonstrates our continued commitment to help local businesses strengthen and grow. Each session is geared to provide core knowledge, regardless of what stage your operation is in.

If you would like to register for a course or want more information, contact Laura Gilliland at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone at 458-2047. All three seminars will be held at the Schertz Civic Center building 5, at 1400 Schertz Parkway Courses are payable by cash or check only. If you are a Schertz resident or operate a business in Schertz, there is no charge for the course. The courses are in the evening for two hours, and a light dinner will be provided.

The following is a list of the three courses being offered in October:

• Franchising. 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, $25. Are you considering franchising your business but don’t know where to start? A guest speaker will illustrate the process for identifying the right franchise for you as well as applying for and running a franchise operation in this seminar. Businesses wanting to capitalize on their success can also learn how to expand through the use of franchising.

• Cash Flow in Your Small Business. 6-8 p.m. Oct. 15, $25. Cash flow is the wellspring that replenishes cash in order to pay bills and keep the business operating. Understanding the different sources and uses of cash and how to manage them can be the difference between being able to just open a business and being able to stay in business.

Too many self-employed people and small business owners neglect their cash flow until it is too late to recover. Knowing how to do a cash flow analysis is an essential skill for every business owner. This seminar will cover the basics of cash flow and how you can perform a cash flow analysis in order to ensure your cash management systems are in place.

• Marketing Your Small Business: How to Identify Your Target Market. 6-8pm Oct. 22, $25. Being able to break your customers into segments and then concentrating your marketing efforts on those segments can be one of the fastest and most efficient ways to turn prospects into paying customers.

Target marketing can be the key to a small business’s success, and this seminar will cover the basics of segmenting your market. Learn how to target and select your key customers and sell to your business’ target market.

The Shop Schertz Showcase and Taste of the Town is just around the corner on Oct. 18. Watch for more information and a coupon in this publication for a discounted ticket to the Taste.

Schertz chamber is continuing to grow and we’re happy to welcome the following new members: Brighter Futures; E&L Cleaning; Jennifer Hill; Innovative Carpet Cleaning; and Wise Payment Systems.

The chamber will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Frost Bank located at the corner of Schertz Parkway and IH 35 at 9 A.M. Stay tuned for more details and pictures as this is sure to be a great event.

At the Chamber Monthly Luncheon in September, Randolph Air Force Base Vice Commander Brian M. Killough updated us on the scope and mission of the base and the future growth that will positively affect the Schertz area.

We saluted those men and women in the military that serve our country and our community.

Many thanks to all of the businesses and officials that support the Schertz Chamber of Commerce.

Frances Rushing

Chamber president