This cutting-edge facility was designed with one goal in mind – to make entrepreneurship and technology careers accessible to everyone. While the 40,000 square-foot building is located on the State College of Florida (SCF) campus, you don’t have to be a member of the student body to access the facility or the classes and workshops. In fact, it’s open to all residents of Bradenton, Sarasota, and beyond. Here’s a look at some of the exciting opportunities currently available.
Entrepreneurship Academy
At 26 West Center, you’ll find a wide range of short courses designed to help you bring your business ideas to execution. This hands-on, interactive training makes it easy to learn best practices and important concepts so you can grow a successful business.
All of the courses are led by subject matter experts and successful entrepreneurs. They’re mostly offered once a week in the early mornings or evenings, so working people can easily fit them into their busy schedules.
You don’t have to be admitted to SCF or have completed any college prerequisites to sign up for these courses – and they’re affordable! The 10-session “Entrepreneurship Essentials” course is just $349, while 3-course sessions are $199. There are also some single-day workshops ranging from $30 to $50. Some of the current course offerings include:
- Digital Marketing for Entrepreneurs
- Build a Website
- Sales Training 101
- Public Speaking & Presenting
- Customer Discovery
- Market Research
- Building Business Credit
- Business Taxes for Startups
- Legal Considerations for Entrepreneurs
- Business Planning
- How to Start an Online Business
You can take a look at all the available courses and register by visiting 26 West Center’s Entrepreneur Academy page.
Business Growth Lab
The Business Growth Lab is an affordable workspace that features 11 offices and 29 desks that are available for lease to anyone who wants to start or expand their business. Community collaboration spaces start at just $100 per month! You can also reserve a “Founder Desk” for just $300 a month, or a Startup Office, which is perfect for individuals or teams.
All monthly rentals come with high-speed internet, mail services, free parking, and break room access.
Personal Branding Lab
Ready for a career change or want to improve your skills? The Personal Branding Lab offers a variety of convenient evening courses with live instructor training and professional feedback to help you reach your goals. Currently, they’re offering three courses…
Job Search Masterclass – a four-course series that includes:
- Resume and Cover Letter Makeover
- 8 Places to Look for Your Dream Job
- 8 Secrets to Interview Success
- How to Negotiate & Accept the Right Job Offer
Digital Personal Branding – a three-course series that includes:
- How to Create and Impressive Personal Brand & Grow Connections on LinkedIn
- Create a Website to Power Your Personal Brand and Business
- Gain a Following By Telling Stories on Instagram
Networking Made Easy – a three-course series that includes:
- Networking Secrets
- How to Leverage LinkedIn to Build Your Network
- Live Networking Event w/ Industry Professionals & Debrief
There are also individual classes and sessions to choose from. Take a look at the Personal Branding Lab page to learn more and sign up.
Digital Collective
Soon, 26 West will begin offering a student-staffed digital marketing agency that’s open to business owners. This allows students to build their skills and collaborate with seasoned digital marketing professionals, while also giving business owners access to affordable and forward-thinking digital marketing services.
Creative Studio
The facility also houses a professional-level, state-of-the-art media production studio. It’s complete with a stage set, cameras, control room, audience seating, and more. This space is available to rent for filming commercials, videos, and other media projects.
Coding Academy
The SCF’s Coding Academy provides the resources you need to break into the high-demand technology field in months – not years. These courses are also open to the public, meaning that you don’t need to be an SCF student to enroll.
The Academy includes courses in coding, cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, drone safety, and more. There are scholarships and funding options available and they even offer Kids Tech Camps!
Classes are offered on evenings and weekends, and you can take many of them on-site or online. You can also earn credit towards an A.S. degree, as well as industry credentials and certificate programs.
Take Your Business to the Next Level
To learn more about 26 West Center, take a look through their website, then give them a call at 941-752-5285 or complete their online form to request a personal tour. If you reach out to them (and we hope you do!) be sure to tell them you heard about it on Discover Bradenton.
