Charlie Mazzilli’s three kids were constantly outgrowing soccer cleats and softball bats, creating two issues: what to do with the old equipment, and how to afford replacements?

Mazzilli, whose 26-year-old son, Charlie Jr., attends The Arc of Union County work center in Cranford, did some research and ultimately pitched his idea to Arc executives: open a retail store featuring used sports equipment. Better still, hire Arc members to staff the store and prep all merchandise for sale.

Start with tons of rotting food waste. Add a gazillion fly larvae. Wait one day. Then harvest biofuel and animal feed, while adding jobs to the community.

When Donna C. Schmidt, RN decided to become an entrepreneur in addition to her already busy career as a registered nurse, she knew all about colon hydrotherapy and ionic detox foot baths—the cornerstone of her new business. What she didn’t know was how best to market these services to potential clients of Cleansing Waters LLC in Westfield.

Enter UCEDC’s Entrepreneurial Training Initiative (ETI). There, Ms. Schmidt learned how to identify likely customers and reach them without wasting time and money that are especially valuable to a new business owner.