Small business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs will have the unique opportunity to gain the knowledge and information needed to ensure their self-owned business is a success now that the Pahrump Town Board has agreed to subsidize most of the tuition for the NxLevel "Course for Entrepreneurs."

The 13-week class, which meets once a week, costs $395 per students. However, the board agreed to fund $300 of the tuition for each of the 25 students by using money from the economic development room tax fund.

The class, taught by Allan Parker, is a CEO training course that is put on by the Rural Nevada Development Corp. and the Nevada Small Business Development Center.

During the course, students design a comprehensive business plan, which Parker stressed was a crucial facet of business success.

"There are many reasons for business failure," Parker explained. "But one of the top ones is lack of a business plan."

Also, students enrolled in the class will benefit from the experience of guest speakers from various businesses.

When asked by Vice Chairman John McDonald about the students who took the course last year (which was also subsidized by the former board), Parker answered with an impressive list of successes.

Of the 13 students enrolled in the class, Parker said, 11 of the students who were in business are still in business today. Of the two students who were planning to start a business, one has and another is in the final stages of planning.

And if the former students' success didn't speak for the course, concerned resident Art Jones did.

"I have to eat a little crow this time," Jones conceded. "I spoke against this last year, but from what I hear, Mr. Parker is doing a wonderful job, and I would like to see this keep going."

This year's class is scheduled to meet every Thursday from 5:45 to 9 p.m. from Sept. 13 through Dec. 13.

For further information, call Parker at (775) 751-1947.