NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV)--Ever thought about starting your own business but didn't know how or have the resources?

That was Chuck Duginski, back in 2010. He was a 49-year-old machinist who's been in the trade for 30 years, but what he really wanted to do was open his own shop.

"I always wanted to start my own business, my own machine shop," said Duginski, 'I've been a machines all my life."    

It was only after friends kept asking him to make parts, that he thought maybe he should. There was one condition,  his wife made him enroll in e-seed first, since he lacked the business and marketing experience.

E-Seed is a entrepreneurial training program at Fox Valley Technical College.

"I learned a lot of things that saved me money and headaches, just different laws, things you don't realize or think about," said Duginski.

At first he started "Grass Roots Shop" in his garage, but after six months of that he found a location in Neenah.

"It's very rewarding building our own thing here, we're doing it our way i guess you could say," said Duginski, "I had a lot of potential i had, that was lying below the surface and i didn't know it was there until i started this business."

"He's an example of when you plan when you have a vision, it can become your reality," said Amy Pietsch, the Director of E-Seed.

Grassroots shop is one of more than 300 businesses to come out of E-Seed in just 6 years, together the businesses employ more than 1500 people in North East Wisconsin.

The training program runs 13 weeks, it includes a weekly class and guidance from community members to help develop solid business plans.

"He is an inspiration to anyone else out there who is wondering can I do this, will or should I do  this," said Pietsch.

The E-seed program will be on the national stage this weekend in Chicago. It's being used as a model at a conference for community colleges.