Rebuilding the economy one entrepreneur at a time.

• Author: Smith, Rob
• Position: GUEST column

WHAT IF YOU'VE GOT A GREAT IDEA, skill or talent, but don't have financial resources, accessible training, support systems and confidence? Should you start a business?

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The answer is most likely no, but what if all of those barriers went away? Could you start a successful business and, more importantly, what is the definition of a successful business? Does success have to be defined by a S100 million exit or can it be defined by the ability to cover your bills and put some extra in your pocket for a rainy day and your future?

The Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute (RNINIFI) is a nonprofit redefining this picture of success for its clients and the Denver metro area. RMMFI supports individuals who have life and income barriers to build community businesses by helping them advance along the pathway to self-sufficiency and sell-worth.

RMMFI's core program, the Business Launch Boot Camp, is a 12-week intensive program focused on taking an entrepreneur from idea to launch. The Boot Camp runs three times a year and provides each entrepreneur eight weeks of business-planning support, four weeks of business launch support, and a micro-loan up to $2,500. Boot Camp clients enter into the' Boot Camp pre-approved for a zero dollar loan. Through commitment and perfornumce, each client earns his or her own loan dollars. lb help Boot Campers reach the first milestone of success by launching their business, each receives a full support system, including: a business mentor, a financial mentor, an accountability coach, access to a network of business professionals and specialized workshops.

RMMFI's Business Builder Loan Program supports both community entrepreneurs and Boot Camp graduates. The program offers loans from $250 to 32,.500 with terms of 6-12 months and interest rates between 8-12 percent. RMMFI lends to entrepreneurs who cannot receive a loan from other traditional sources of Financing due to their personal histories, credit histories or experience levels in their businesses. Clients can access multiple loans through the program and, over time, build a history of positive repayment to ensure a smooth transition to one of R NI MVPs next-stage lending partners. As of April 2012, RMMFI has provided 31 loans totaling more than 363,000.

The clients are the focus and center of the RMMF'I model. Clients are people like Chelly Branham of Chelly's Dazzling jewelry. Chelly started her business journey with...