On Wednesday, July 31st, Kayla Vokral, with Big Sky Economic Development (BSED) & the Montana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) received certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) from the Grow America. EDFP Certification is a professional credential given to individuals who successfully complete Grow America’s intensive economic development finance training series. The training provides individuals working in the field of economic development with instruction in business credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs.
Each of the four EDFP Certification Program courses are five days in length and concludes with an exam. Upon successful completion of all four courses, the candidate is awarded EDFP Certification.
Kayla has been a Business Advisor at the SBDC since July 2019. She specializes in Business Plan and Financial Projection Assistance, as well as Food/Ag/Restaurant Assistance. As the Billings Training Manager, she is dedicated to preparing and facilitating training sessions in the Billings nine-county region, making her an essential resource for the SBDC. Her experience in running a small business gives her a deep understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face. Her first-hand knowledge and empathetic approach allow her to provide the necessary support to entrepreneurs on their business journeys. Kayla holds certifications as an Accredited Small Business Consultant (ASBD), Profit Mastery Facilitator, and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual. In addition to her role at BSED/SBDC, Kayla is the co-host of BSED’s organizational podcast, The Vault at 201 N Broadway.
“Kayla is an outstanding asset to the SBDC team. She excels in business counseling and facilitating training events for the Billings region, making her an irreplaceable resource. Kayla’s personal experience gives her invaluable insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face. Her passion, knowledge, and commitment inspire our clients to surpass their business goals. She is truly an irreplaceable asset to our team”, said Lorene Hintz, SBDC Regional Director.
Grow America’s work focuses on HOMES, JOBS and COMMUNITY. Founded as a national nonprofit in 1969, Grow America has worked for 46 years fulfilling its mission to increase the flow of capital for investment in low-income communities. Grow America directs capital to support the preservation and creation of affordable housing, the creation of jobs through training and small business lending and the promotion of livable communities through investment in social infrastructure. Grow America’s products and services are deployed for the benefit of our municipal and nonprofit partners in both urban and rural low-income communities.
Grow America has provided training to over 70,000 professionals working in the fields of economic and housing development. Participants come from diverse backgrounds including city and state governments, public agencies, community-based organizations, professional organizations and banks.
Grow America is headquartered in New York City with offices in Cleveland, OH and Dallas, TX. For more information about Grow America, please visit: www.growamerica.org/.