The Berlin Chamber of Commerce Financial Literacy Educational Series kicked off Feb. 1 and runs through the end of March.
Everyone in business community welcome to attend
By Charlene Sharpe, Associate Editor
A new educational series hosted by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce meant to improve financial literacy among local merchants and business owners is officially underway.
The Berlin Chamber of Commerce Financial Literacy Educational Series kicked off Feb. 1 and runs through the end of March. The weekly series of presentations is open to anyone in the Berlin business community.
“The basics here aren’t just for those already in business,” said Ryan Nellans, the executive director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce. “We want to help provide for and empower our future entrepreneurs.”
The series will consist of eight informative presentations scheduled for Thursday mornings, Nellans said. The first session was set for Feb. 1, while the last will be March 28. Each session starts at 8 a.m. and will be followed by a question-and-answer period. The presentations are at the Berlin Welcome Center, with topics ranging from basic bookkeeping to social media marketing.
The series kicked off this week with a talk on financial literacy basics presented by Bank of America. Next week, a basic bookkeeping presentation will be made by the Maryland Small Business Development Center. Future presentations focus on understanding financial statements, presented by the business development center, and cyber liability and insurance, presented by Bradley Atlantic, among others. A full schedule is available on the Berlin Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
“There are a lot of ways to start a business, but not all of them come with a comprehensive business education,” Nellans said. “The chamber recognizes that, and is rededicating itself to the local business community by helping to fill in some of those gaps and bolster the resilience of our local economy.”
He’s hopeful the array of businesses in Berlin will benefit from the new series, which, to encourage participation, is open to everyone in the business community, regardless of the size of their businesses.
“Worcester County has the highest number of small businesses per capita in the state of Maryland,” Nellans said. “The freedom that so many of our neighbors enjoy in being able to chart their own course is an immensely valuable part of the Eastern Shore’s history and culture. We want to help preserve that.”
Attendance is free for the weekly presentations, and a complimentary breakfast will be provided to all attendees. Nellans said chamber officials are is committed to supporting the local business ecosystem and believe enhanced financial literacy is a crucial step toward sustained growth and prosperity.