OTTUMWA — More help is out there for local entrepreneurs looking for tips and advice.

The Rural Entrepreneurial and Leadership Institute (RELI) at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa offers students and community members courses on various business topics.

“What we’re trying to do is to develop programs, and courses, to promote more entrepreneurial ventures. And to stimulate and support private and public businesses and provide the leadership to keep them going,” said Peggy Thie, coordinator in the division of customized learning at Indian Hills.

The program began in 2006 and features college credit courses, customized learning classes, camps and other services that are aimed to help people interested in entrepreneurship and leadership development, Thie said.

Registration for the courses is typically $99. RELI has also started hosting courses in Chariton and Centerville. Thie said the money made from registrations goes into paying speakers and covering the cost of the events.

“Strategies for Successful Supervising” is a series of courses that RELI hosts, to help people become good managers. The last series, for example, featured courses on communication, teamwork and dealing with change.

These courses are usually taught by a trainer or consultant hired by RELI.

“Those have been very successful,” Thie said. “They realize they all have the same struggles. They all have the same issues with staff and processes. It’s kind of good that they can relate to one another.”

Thie said they are hoping to get two additional speakers a year for the “Professional Speaker Series.”

RELI is also offering “Leaders in Education” and “Education and the Workforce” classes this summer. These are classes that give educators the opportunity to get out into the real world to see what skills their students need and what technology is out there and how it is being used.

RELI also offers random courses on various topics and gives companies the option to have speakers be brought to them.

Pat Shaver can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at p.shaver@ottumwacourier.com.

For Your Information

What: RELI’s Professional Speaker’s Series