FERRIDAY, La. &045; Two hours away at the University of Louisiana-Monroe they are offering a class to help business owners improve their business.

You could make the drive, or you could just go to the Macon Ridge Economic Development Region’s Ferriday office and participate in the class via satellite.

The office’s new distance learning center will offer its first class to business owners from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Students in the seminar will be able to see, listen and talk to Professor Paul Dunn, who will be teaching a real class on the ULM campus.

The Ferriday classroom will be centered on a large screen with Dunn’s picture projected onto the wall.

Thursday’s class is the first of its kind at the Macon Ridge resource center, but it won’t be the last, Vice President for Information Technology Patrick Landers said.

This first class is free to business owners but only 15 seats are still available, Landers said. Those interested should call and reserve a seat.

Additional free classes will be available in the future but no dates have been set.

Landers said the class is for any business owner from mom and pop to big business.

&uot;This will tell them how to grow, how to succeed and how to network,&uot; Landers said.

The program is being offered through the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network and is sponsored by Small Business Associates and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.