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Leroy Anderson, one of the graduating offenders, reads his certificate.
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Jim Boyd, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center, shakes hands with Derek Benevento during the ceremony. (Both photos courtesy of the Galesburg Register Mail)
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Correctional Center Inmates Graduate from WIU Entrepreneurship Program

April 30, 2019

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MACOMB, IL -- The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Western Illinois University has been presenting business entrepreneurship workshops at the Henry Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg, IL.

The eight sessions were tailored to help offenders start their own businesses when they are released from prison so they can become self-sustaining, as well as reduce recidivism rates.

The first group of six class graduates was presented Monday, April 22 during a ceremony at the correctional center. During the ceremony, the graduates each presented the business plans they developed through the course work.

The graduates included:

• Derek Benevento
• Randy Flood
• Leroy Anderson
• Jordan Carmody
• Kenneth Hernandez
• Daniel Falcon

The WIU Entrepreneurship classes were offered through a grant received by the SBDC.

For more information about the SBDC, visit wiusbdc.org.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing