Bonham, Texas - Melvin Hall is a quiet, unassuming man swept away by the belief that every person holds within them a dream that can be released into a viable way of life or business.  For Hall, creativity and hard work is economic development.

With his understated passion he hopes to accomplish great things in Fannin County and Muenster.

Last week, he became the new enterprise facilitator for North Texas Enterprise Project, a not for profit agency fast becoming a place of support for entrepreneurs and small business people in its service area.

NTEP is an apprentice program of the Sirolli Institute, founded by Dr. Ernesto Sirolli.  Like Hall, Sirolli has a passion for helping people help themselves. For over 20 years, Sirolli has trekked the world in a quest to prove that people sometimes need a little help in discovering how to make their dreams a reality.  When it happens, he believes that success ripples through a community and makes other people want to change their lot in life.  Soon, a small community’s economy is turned on its head – for the better.  The grass roots grow deep and the people begin to flourish.

Hall has already seen it happen.

He comes to north Texas from Littlefield, where the WesTex Allied Communities, Inc became the first Texas group to try Sirolli’s technique of enterprise facilitation..

For one year, WesTex has taught the Trinity of Management, a principle that all successful businesses must focus on the product, marketing and financial management – and that no one person can do all of that alone.

Through word of mouth, people come to their enterprise facilitator with ideas.  The facilitator never supplies a solution or easy answer to any blocks the entrepreneurs may be facing.  Instead he or she patiently guides each entrepreneur in building a team and finding the necessary resources.

Behind the scenes is the board of intelligence, an unlimited group of concerned citizens who use their networks to open up resources to clients.

Back in Littlefield, Hall is credited with getting WesTex off the ground. When the project started, he was so enamored with enterprise facilitation, he considered applying for the job of facilitator.  However, he felt he wasn’t ready.

Hall’s timing is a benefit for NTEP.  He is now ready to help local community members succeed for themselves.  Since this is his passion, he’s even willing to bring his family to Fannin County in order to do it.

The effect of enterprise facilitation successes have rippled around the world.  Now the first project in Texas is washing over Fannin County and Muenster, adding their experience and vision to NTEP through Hall.

NTEP board chairman Bill Jones sees entrepreneurialism as the way the United States economy is headed in the near future.  Across the country, there are more accounts of large scale projects lifting small businesses up with millions of dollars of support.  Though NTEP offers no money and no advice, Jones sees the work Hall will soon do as a salvation to local economies.

He hopes to prove again that a little bit of success will go a long way to further an entire community.

Hall officially begins work July 17, at which time he will assist new and existing clients of NTEP. 

For more information on NTEP and enterprise facilitation call 903-227-1649.

Melvin Hall, left, signs on to become North Texas Enterprise Project’s new enterprise facilitator as NTEP board chair Bill Jones looks on.  Hall will begin assisting small business owners and entrepreneurs in Fannin County and Muenster in July.