The Small Business Development Center, with an office at SWOCC in Brookings, is offering their second Small Business Management Workshop Series beginning Oct. 8.
The nine-month program will be given once a month through June 2025. The workshops cover the essential building blocks for businesses that are starting out, as well as offering an opportunity for existing businesses to grow and improve.
Available the second Tuesday of each month, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., experts in their field will be offering information and their guidance in a hands-on workshop. Each attendee will then meet with the local Curry County Business Advisor to bring the information they have learned to life.
The idea behind the program is to help business owners “know what they don’t know” and help advance their development, bringing business knowledge which will affect the local economy.
“We are looking for business owners we can assist to get the most out of the hard work that they put into their businesses,” said Workshop Facilitator Gayle Goldstone.
The first group of participants described the workshops are beneficial.
“SBDC’s Small Business Management course has been a life changer for me and my husband as we start the journey of our new business,” said Ashley Mcgehee, owner of Legends Arcade, LLC. “The tools and knowledge we have gained in this course have helped prepare us for the amazing adventure of being an entrepreneur.”
“I have really been enjoying the SBM workshops,” said Kristen Smith, co-owner of Arch Rock Brewing Company with James Smith. “Although my business has been running for 11 years now, we are at a point where we are considering expansion and are at a crossroads. I’m so glad I signed up for the classes, even though some of the content was familiar, I still found it valuable. It’s a great group of people, everyone is very supportive, helpful, and kind. The best part about it is the monthly one-on-one advising sessions where you get customized advice. I can’t recommend it enough.”
“I’m currently attending the SBM program at the Curry Campus. It’s truly special as it brings people from the Curry and Coos campuses together via technology so we are one big class miles apart,” said Alisa Green, owner of The Green Team! LLC. “I’m so thankful for the class. I’m increasing my knowledge of how to run a small business, and I’ve already seen improvements. In addition to the class, each business owner attends sessions with their business advisor. Since starting my work with Gayle, I’ve increased my awareness of how to run my business more efficiently and highlighted areas that need improvement. This feedback has resulted in me developing a time-saving business strategy that has already affected my company’s growth.”
The cost for the entire program is $300.
The program is also available at the Coos Bay campus. Space is limited to 12 businesses at each campus.
