Seventeen participants graudated from the Orleans County Microenterprise Assistance Program on Tuesday, May 3, at the BEST Center, 1 College Road, Batavia.  This spring's class is the first for a combined Genesee-Orleans Microenterprise initiative.  Graduates include 3 participants from Genesee County and 15 from Orleans County, 9 who were directly sponsored by the Orleans County MAP.

The MAP was originally a federally funded program designed to provide eligible participants with entrepreneurship training, technical assistance and access to low-interest revolving loan fund money.  The overall goal of the Program is to create viable and productive small businesses.

To date 212 Orleans County residents have completed the MAP; representing 134 operating businesses, producing approximately 170 jobs.  Applications are now being accepted for classes to start September 6, 2005.  For more information contact Candie at 585/589-7060 ext. 103 or Traci at 585/345-6868.