This Month’s Events and Classes to Grow Your Missouri Business

Welcome to February, the shortest month of the year to get ‘er done! You have a business to run, learning to do, sales to make and 29 days (hey, leap year!) to do it. Not a problem! All you need is an organized plan full of business building events, networking soirees and problem solving workshops …

And where can you find the what, where, when?

Right here, with the MOSourceLink calendar, your place to find seeds of entrepreneurial education and inspiration. It’s chock full of hundreds of business workshops, classes and networking events that can help you build your social network, evaluate your idea or scale your business. And you can filter those events by subject, entrepreneur type and location.

At the top of the month, we’ll also give a quick short cut to just a few featured events from around Missouri. So grab your planner, calendar or smart phone and let’s get your network working for you.

Let the statewide roundup begin …

February 11, 2020: Farm to Fork Summit 2020, Osceola, Mo.

Brought to you by New Growth, the second annual Farm to Fork Summit features farmers, distributors, buyers, educators and others building community health and wealth with local food. 

Come out to hear from producers like Greg and Nancy Rasmussen of Sunny Lane Farm in Vernon County along with the keynote speaker Missouri Vice Chancellor for Extension Marshall Stewart. 

Work together to increase local food options in west central Missouri. This summit will focus on action we can take.The event will include info on: strengthening farmers markets, building farm businesses and making healthy food easier and more affordable for all. BONUS: Lunch will feature local and Missouri foods!

February 13, 2020: Microlending: Accessing Capital When You’re a Small Business, Springfield, Mo.

SCORE – Southwest Missouri is tackling a large problem for small business: accessing money. Are you having trouble securing a conventional loan because you’re a startup, have limited collateral, have challenges with cash flow or do not have enough industry experience? 

Come learn about how U.S. Small Business Administration-backed microloans are designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs who lack access to capital and need counseling. 

Also if you want to learn more about different types of funding, download Show Me Capital.

February 18, 2020: Starting and Managing a Small Business, Osage Beach, Mo.

This class, brought to you by the Missouri SBDC will provide an overview of the critical first steps associated with starting a business. You will assess your strengths and weaknesses in terms of business ownership, learn about the importance of planning, and discuss legal and regulatory requirements. 

At the end of this learning experience, you will be able to: 

• Identify resources that will assist you in starting a business in Missouri

• Identify areas in which you need additional training or assistance for the operation of your business

• Know if business ownership is for you

February 25, 2020: What Certification Means to You: Women and Veterans Edition, St. Louis, Mo.

Join Grace Hill Women’s Business Center as they partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration to discuss details on becoming certified. This workshop will specifically cater to women-owned and veteran-owned businesses. 

This workshop will go through what certification means for your business, how to apply, resources for assistance on getting certified and government contracts. It is free to attend, so grab your spot now!

February 26, 2020: Defining Your Brand Advocate, Columbia, Mo.

The theme here is: narrowing your focus to most efficiently use your marketing dollars! 

Through this class from The Hatchery, participants will go through a Q&A format worksheet that narrows down the target audience of your brand to one specific individual. No detail is too small to humanize your brand advocate and get to know them on a level that is so intimate that you canmake all of your marketing decisions in their favor. This doesn’t mean you are ignoring the other people within your audience but rather creating someone who is going to sell for you when you are not present to sell. Your brand advocate is your ideal customer who is going to live, grow and broaden your audience reach organically.

We will answer the following questions:

1. What is a brand advocate?

2. Why are they important?

3. How do you find your brand advocate?

4. Who is your brand advocate.

Attendees will walk away with a very precise audience to be speaking to and actionable steps to be able to meet your audience where they already are. Tickets are available now.