Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) has added a new wine business entrepreneurship program to its online courses.
Posted on March 13, 2014 by Joanne Davidhizar, Michigan State University Extension and MSU Product Center
The Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) has aided hundreds of individuals through easy educational access to basic and advanced resources for new and established grape growers or wine makers.
Many individuals are interested in entering Michigan’s expanding grape and wine industry, but lack the knowledge or skills to get started. The Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) has aided hundreds of individuals through easy educational access to basic and advanced resources for new and established grape growers or wine makers.
Many VESTA enrollees were found to be utilizing their knowledge to start new businesses. Hence, the new VESTA wine business and entrepreneurship program was developed to further meet the identified need. The wine business and entrepreneurship track offers courses in business planning, finance, safety, legal aspects of wineries, marketing, equipment, winery design and human resources. This program joins the established viticulture and enology certificates.
VESTA, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, in partnership with the Michigan State University Institute of Agriculture Technology and colleges and universities in 17 other states throughout the United States offers online credit courses, workshops and mentoring to people looking to enter the grape industry or further their skills through professional development. Participants may seek a VESTA certificate, a community college associates degree or a Michigan State University Institute of Agriculture Certificate in Viticulture through its off-campus programs in southwest and northwest Michigan.
To obtain information about VESTA and off-campus MSU IAT Applied Plant Science certificate programs and admission requirements, visit the MSU Institute of Agriculture Technology or call 517-355-0190. Lake Michigan College-based Coordinator, Stacey Rocklin, may be reached at 269-927-8772 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Northwestern Michigan College-based Coordinator, Brian Matchett at 231-995-1719 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), and MSU Campus-based Tom Smith at 517-353-4822 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
To request free business counseling from Michigan State University Extension and MSU Product Center staff for your winery business startup, go to www.cnchemicals.com/, or call 517-432-8750.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.cnchemicals.com/. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://www.cnchemicals.com/, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).