The Small Business Development Section offers a series of monthly business educational workshops at no cost to you. Each workshop is designed to provide participants with practical knowledge needed to enhance their business acumen. Please contact Edwina Jones at (816) 513-6817 or e-mail small_biz@kcmo.org, and make reservations. If you register by e-mail, please include your name, business name and a contact phone number. All classes will be held at the Small Business Development Section, located in the renowned 18th and Vine Jazz District, Historic Lincoln Building, 1601 E. 18th St.

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007
Listening to Your Business
This four-hour workshop will take you and a small group of fellow entrepreneurs through a four-step evaluation and action process designed to enhance your company's performance, now and into the future. You will participate in a series of activities that will show you where your business is today and where you'll be in three years. The workshop includes: 1) Setting your three-year vision, 2) Taking a snapshot of your business, 3) Evaluating where you are in the planning process, and 4) Translating your goals into action steps
Time: 8:30 a.m. until noon

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007
Financing Your Business
For a business to stay competitive in today's market, one must have a blend of equity capital and access to financing. What are your options when you need capital infusion? The goal of this seminar is to educate small business owners on the various funding options available to them. We will include a discussion on traditional options such as bank loans, SBA programs and micro-loans available through SBDC's. In addition, we will discuss non-traditional funding options such as factoring, purchase order funding, contract based funding and vendor assurance programs. Some of these programs are excellent options for companies that have obtained or are pursuing government contracts. We hope to educate small business owners on the programs available and how these programs can be used to provide the working capital to grow their business. This event is a collaborative effort among the City, American Funding Solutions and GO Connection. The class is being held at The Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Road.
Time: 10a.m. until noon

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007
How to do business with the City of Kansas City, Mo.
Learn how to solicit business from the City and/or its contractors for a productive experience. Each month, we will explore the ins an outs of competing for and winning bids with these organizations. This monthly workshop presents essential information, tips and tools to help you work through the procurement maze. This workshop is held on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m.