By Brian Livingston

blivingston@themeridianstar.com

    A conference room Tuesday on the second floor of Union Station on Front Street in Meridian was a potential launching point for about 40 future business leaders as they attended the “Just Start It” seminar sponsored by Meridian Main Street.

    Karen Rooney, executive director for Meridian Main Street, described this effort as Main Street’s first brick in its economic restructuring program. The panel included experts on small business development, a commercial broker, an entrepreneur program director, a procurement advisor for the Mississippi Development Authority and a marketing specialist.

    “You don’t have to go it alone and all these services are free,” Rooney said. “We wanted to make this available to the public to encourage growth.”

    Taking an idea through all the steps to it becoming an actual business can be a daunting task. Elizabeth Keihn is only 22 years old but she already has this idea, this dream in her head that she wants to start her own boutique.

    “Where do I start?” Keihn asked of herself. “Do I rent, lease: what are the types and kinds of leases? I’m starting young and I have a lot to learn.”

    Jerome Kittrell, who is with Winstead Realty, said many people are easily confused by what it is they need to do.

    “I hope I can answer their questions to their satisfaction,” Kittrell said. “But there are different leases and new business owners need to take into account the trends, growth areas, and if an area is stable to support a new business. Location, location, location.”

    “I just hope we are able to give those in attendance enough good information they can take their ideas to the next level,” Rooney said. “If they decide to locate here in Meridian, and especially downtown, we want them to be successful.”