The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) will offer the next version of its highly successful Home Improvement Contractor Training (HICT) course in Mandarin in Flushing next week.

QEDC will provide an experienced instructor who has worked with many small construction businesses to lead four workshops that prepare contractors to pass the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) licensing exam. The first class will be offered on Sunday, Sept. 14, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Compu21, 39-07 Prince St., Ste. 2C, Flushing. The other three classes will take place at Compu21 from 6 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 16, Thursday, Sept. 18, and Friday, Sept. 19. Participants must attend all four sessions, and after the last class, they will go as a group to take the licensing exam at DCA headquarters in Manhattan.

The lessons, which cost $300, include free, one-on-one business advisory services, such as consultations on permits and licensing, business development, avoiding liability, procurement and access to capital.

QEDC offered its first Mandarin HICT course in January 2012, and all participants went on to pass the DCA exam and obtain licenses to work legally as home improvement contractors. Since then, more than 200 individuals have taken HICT and then passed the licensing test.

“I encourage home improvement vendors to be licensed by the city because consumers look for contractors with licenses. Plus, the contractor has legal recourse in case of a complaint,” stated City Council Member Peter Koo. “It’s a win-win situation for everybody.”

To register, contact Jeff Fan, who speaks English and Mandarin, at 718-263-0546 or jfan@queensny.org. ‘)}