IFA to Obama Administration: Invest in Entrepreneurial Development

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March 2010 Franchising World


Workforce development is one of the core attributes of the franchise business model. 


In January, the International Franchise Association urged President Obama to provide resources and programs to help aspiring entrepreneurs acquire the skills and experience to succeed in operating their own businesses. 



“Supporting programs to help develop franchise small- business ownership will help entrepreneurs achieve their dream of business ownership more quickly,” said IFA President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Franchise businesses can play an important role in economic recovery and sustainable job growth. Given the economic crisis we are now recovering from, policymakers need to encourage growth from every angle.”



Shay made the recommendations during the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board’s Workforce Development Meeting on Jan. 13, a follow-up to Obama’s Dec. 3 Job Summit. He was one of several business, labor and philanthropic community leaders invited to provide perspectives about maximizing the impact of federal investments in workforce development.



The board is considering a greater role for public-private partnerships in the development of effective education and training programs. Shay observed that workforce development is one of the core attributes of the franchise business model, saying franchises are responsible for training hundreds of thousands of workers, managers and business owners each year.



Shay highlighted the work of the IFA Educational Foundation in providing training and continuing education for franchise business owners and recommended a partnership to develop a fundamental training program to provide individuals seeking a career change with the skills necessary to purchase and operate a franchise business. The creation of a Franchise Entrepreneurship Development Program, coordinated by the foundation and taught by its Certified Franchise Executive graduates in conjunction with organizations such as the National Association of Community Colleges, would help individuals consider and prepare for careers as franchisees.



“Franchise businesses provide for over 20 million jobs and generate $2.3 trillion in economic output,” Shay said. “By helping to develop new franchise business owners, an entrepreneurial training program would help create new jobs through an innovative workforce development program.” Shay applauded the work of the advisory board in identifying ways to improve workforce development. “We look forward to continued discussions about how the franchise industry can help stimulate workforce training and help the country recover from the recession.”

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