A series of small-business education courses, presented through a partnership of the city of Springfield and Urban Districts Alliance, kicked off April 26, with additional sessions planned for May and June.
“The purpose of these sessions is to give small-business owners the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed,” UDA Community Development Coordinator Donnie Rodgers said in a news release. “The Urban Districts Alliance is committed to assisting small-business owners to thrive within Center City.”
The sessions are free and open to any interested parties, and they are a key step toward eligibility for the Business Incentive Loan Program and the Home-based Business Incentive Loan Program offered by UDA and the city, the release said.
The first session was an introduction to business plans, presented at Ozarks Technical Community College by Isabel Eisenhauer, a business consultant with Missouri State University’s Small Business & Technology Development Center.
All sessions start at 6 p.m. in Room 108 in the Information Commons West building at OTC. Other sessions scheduled are:
- Web Strategies for Small Businesses, presented on May 17 by Nick Altrup of 417 Marketing;
- Small-Business Employment Resources, presented on May 24 by representatives of the Missouri Career Center;
- Financing Resources and Information, presented June 14 by Rodgers; and
- a Small-Business Roundtable discussion with center city business owners on June 21.
Participants will be able to participate in question-and-answer sessions, give feedback on future courses and learn about additional available resources.
UDA is an umbrella organization that provides leadership, programs and services to the downtown, Walnut Street and Commercial Street historic districts. Funding for the educational sessions is being provided by the city of Springfield through the Community Development Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the release said.
Advanced registration is requested and is available by calling (417) 831-6200.[[In-content Ad]]
