Center teaches women how to stay on the fast track. (Women's Business Development Center)

Susan Jarrell, a former Lockheed Martin Corp. employee, had her first business venture fail. She'd started a small repackaging business but hadn't done enough planning.

Now Jarrell and her business partner, Chuck Faust, are teaming up to launch Salty Dog Brewing Co., a new brew pub on the Main Line next spring. This time, she thinks she's ready because of training she received from the Women's Business Development Center.

"I didn't do my homework and research and planning [last time], and my business was not a success," Jarrell said. "That is what the business center has shown us. We've been working on our business plan since January and it is now August. We are doing our research and planning. We are doing our homework. We are taking our time to work on our focus."

Jarrell took a somewhat grueling business course through the 11-month-old Women's Business Development Center called Premier FastTrac II, an advanced entrepreneurial program that is designed to boost profitability.

Jarrell is one of more than 300 women who have taken training courses through the Women's Business Development Center since …