UDA rolls out spring business course series

Last edited 1:04 p.m., March 29, 2012

The Urban Districts Alliance and the city of Springfield next week will launch a series of five free small-business education sessions.
 
The first session, scheduled for 6 p.m. April 2 at Missouri State University’s Park Central office building in downtown Springfield, will focus on digital and social media, according to a UDA news release. The session will be led by Jeff Hedrick, digital planner and social media specialist with The Marlin Co. He will explore the use of social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Foursquare, as well as bridging the gap between social and in-person connections. There also will be a question-and-answer session, the release said.
 
In addition to the April 2 meeting, other scheduled sessions are:

• April 16 –  focused on pricing goods and services and led by Kelley Still, executive director of the Drury University Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship;
• May 7 – focused on business resources and led by Kelly Miller, business librarian and Park Central branch manager for the Springfield-Greene County Library;
• May 21 – focused on connecting with bankers and financing alternatives, and the session leader will be announced; and
• June 4 – a roundtable discussion with center-city business owners.

All classes are scheduled for 6 p.m.

The city of Springfield provided the funding for the sessions though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program, the release said.  

All sessions are free for attendees; registration in advance is requested to ensure availability. Participation is a step in becoming eligible for the Business Incentive Loan Program, offered by the city and UDA, the release said.

“The purpose of these sessions is to give small business owners the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed," said Donnie Rodgers, UDA community development coordinator, in the release. “The Urban Districts Alliance is committed to helping small business owners thrive within center city."  

To register, call the UDA at (417) 831-6200.