PELHAM – Pelham businessman Jeff McDowell was recently accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, an honor reserved for select small business owners throughout the nation.

McDowell, owner of Pelham-based McDowell Security, said the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program provides a crash course in business management. The 12-week program covers topics such as forecasting growth, operations and processes, marketing, evaluating opportunities and being a business leader.

According to the program’s website, its goal is to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and business support services.

The program, which begins during the week of Aug. 21, requires McDowell to participate in webinars and complete online assignments. He will travel to Babson College in Massachusetts on two separate occasions to participate in weeklong seminars.

McDowell said the application process for a spot in the program was competitive. He said he applied for the program after receiving an email inviting him to apply.

“There were several steps in the interview process,” he said. “I applied in March and found out that I was accepted in August.”

McDowell said September will mark seven years of being a business owner. McDowell Security primarily serves clients in the Birmingham metropolitan area, but provides statewide coverage as well.

“I’m super excited about this opportunity,” McDowell said. “I’m a high school graduate that started a security business. I do security and I’m good at that. My weak spot has always been the business side, so I know this program will help me grow in that area. It will help me manage current and expected growth.”

McDowell said his business has experienced a lot of growth over the past year and he is currently in negotiations that would expand McDowell Security’s services to another state.