Dates: 12-13 November 2020 

Link: www.veteransuccessconference.com 

9:45am - 5pm EST Panels and Breakout Sessions from 10am-3pm

Speed Networking and Virtual Expo Hall from 9:45 am - 5 pm

FAVOB members will  receive complimentary tickets. Please check your email for the link to access your ticket!

Calling all veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses. Ready to advance your career or boost your business? Are you looking to connect with experts and leaders from around the country?

Are you "zoomed" out and ready to dive into a technology platform that will allow one to one "speed networking" for a more intimate and energizing dynamic?

The Veteran Success Conference is for you if you want to grow your business or move ahead in your career. Over 20 guest speakers (including military veterans and family members) will partner with you to: --Learn proven job search strategies, how to craft an effective resume, how to work with recruiters, and more on career day! --Learn more about increasing sales and revenue, creating a marketing machine, or exploring your business idea on Entrepreneurship Day!

The information and connections you will find during these two days will elevate your network while also allowing you to contribute to the success of others. What more could you ask from the convenience of your desk?

Date:Tuesday, November 17, 2020 from 1pm to 2pm EST

Link: https://readytalk.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1366285&tp_key=a58c2e2754&sti=scoreeventpage

Google Analytics is a fantastic tool. Best part is, it's free to use for everyone! No matter if you have a 2-page website or a massive e-commerce website, you can use Google Analytics to understand how your customers are using your website and where you can improve their experience. During this webinar, expert in business data analytics Mo Hossain will walk you through the steps of how to set up Google Analytics so you can start getting data from your own website.
In this workshop you’ll learn:

• The basics of Google Analytics
• Why Google Analytics is important
• How you can use it for your benefit

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov 

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 from 11am to 12:30pm EST

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usda-sba-programs-for-rural-florida-businesses-tickets-126114007391

This is a two part online workshop.

USDA Rural Development will share information on programs providing assistance to Rural Businesses with our portfolio of more than 40 different loan and grant programs offered through USDA Rural Development. Specifically, we will be focusing in on our Business and Industry Guarantee Loan Program, our Rural Energy For America Program Loans and Grants, and our Value-Added Producer Grants during this session.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will discuss their programs and services with an emphasis on those available to Rural Florida Small Businesses. This class covers their offerings to help you start and grow your business. This over view will run through the SBA Loan Guaranty Programs as well as our other programs and services including Counseling, Export Assistance, Government Contracting, Surety Bonds, and Disaster Assistance.

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov 

Date:Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 4pm to 5pm EST

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strategies-on-how-to-pivot-a-business-tickets-125373352071

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will discuss SBA programs and services to assist your business in recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. The presentation will cover COVID-19 relief programs, SBA loan programs, federal contracting programs, small business classes, and one-on-one business counseling available at no cost. Learn about available resources and how to access them.

SCORE’s presentation will offer an intriguing and thought-provoking session that may stir up more questions than answers! Critical and foundational topics will be discussed regarding the leadership and vision you bring to your business. Are you ready to pivot YOUR business?

Specific agenda items to be discussed include:

• Pivoting means you know where you are today. Is that true?
• Pivoting means you know where you want to go. Are you sure?
• Is your destination the right destination?

The webinar will include a Q & A session.

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov 

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 11am to 12:30pm EST

Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-show-me-the-money-financing-options-for-your-small-business-tickets-122385699923

This class discusses the multiple sources of capital for starting and growing a small business. The pros and cons of the funding sources are reviewed. Topics to be discussed include familiar options such as self-financing, funding from friends & family, and partnerships. Other sources are reviewed such as:

• Small Business Loans

• SBA Loan Guaranty Program

• Microloans

Some less conventional financing sources along with their pros and cons are also discussed, including selling equity (shares), venture capital, angel investors, and crowd funding.

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov 

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 9am to 10am EST

Link: https://clients.floridasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=900400113

Awareness, engagement and conversions, it's the byproduct of visibility and it's easier said than done. The online world is noisy, which makes it hard for small businesses to be seen or heard. You need a solid visibility plan. What's a good starting point? One visibility day a week. In this session you will learn 5 tactics to capture the spotlight in the direction to your company and stand out against the competition. Find out how a business visibility day can boost your business' bottom line by registering for this no-cost event, today!

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov

 Access courses on Market Research, Buying a Business, and Preparing a Loan Package

Link: https://www.score.org/recovery/small-business-resilience-resource-portal

 Market Research

You have a great product or service, but who are your customers and how can you reach them? Take SBA's FREE online course for an overview of how to identify your customers and how to market to them.

Launch the course

How to Buy a Business

Are you thinking about buying a business? Take SBA's FREE online training for an overview of how to determine the value of a business and how to transfer ownership of a business.

Launch the course

 How to Prepare a Loan Package

Are you thinking about securing a loan for your small business? Take SBA's FREE online training for an overview of how to prepare a loan package.

Launch the course

Blogs and Recorded Business Training Videos

• SBA Learning Center - https://www.sba.gov/learning-center

• Recorded webinars from SCORE https://www.score.org/recorded-webinars

• Training Videos from the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network: http://floridasbdc.org/training-videos/

• Sign up to get SBA E-Newletter and updates: https://www.sba.gov/updates

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov

Did you know that next week is National Veterans Small Business Week?!?

Each year the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates, connects, and empowers service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW). This year marks the seventh annual NVSBW.

This year’s theme is #VetBiz Resources in Your Local Community which highlights the breadth of free to low-cost entrepreneurial resources that veteran and military entrepreneurs can access right in their neighborhood – from seeking business counseling services from a local SCORE chapter, to visiting the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) in their area for help formulating a business plan.

Join SBA district offices, resource partners, and other organizations as we celebrate the veteran- and military-owned small business community.

Upcoming Webinars:

• Put Your Small Business in the Spotlight: 5 SmallBiz Visibility Tactics-         (Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 9am to 10am EST) 

  https://clients.floridasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=900400113

• Show me the money - Financing options for your small business              (Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 11am to 12:30pm EST) 

  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-show-me-the-money-financing-options-for-your-small-business-tickets-122385699923

• Strategies on How to Pivot a Business                                                             (Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 4pm to 5pm EST) 

  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strategies-on-how-to-pivot-a-business-tickets-125373352071

• Overview of USDA and SBA Programs for Rural Florida Businesses          (Tuesday, November 17, 2020 from 11am to 12:30pm EST) 

  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usda-sba-programs-for-rural-florida-businesses-tickets-126114007391

• Google Analytics 101 - Improve Your Online Business by Understanding Essential Data (Tuesday, November 17, 2020 from 1pm to 2pm EST) 

  https://readytalk.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1366285&tp_key=a58c2e2754&sti=scoreeventpage

Check out this link to find more information about next weeks up coming events and opportunities!

Link:https://www.score.org/live-webinars

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov

Date:Thursday, November 5, 2020 from 11am to 12:30pm EST

Link:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-sba-programs-for-veterans-looking-to-start-or-grow-their-business-tickets-122386099117

This class covers the programs and services the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers to veterans to help start and grow a business. Although the SBA is usually associated with loans, this overview will run through the SBA Loan Programs as well as our other programs and services including Counseling, Export Assistance, Government Contracting, SuretyBonds, and Disaster Assistance. Some of these services are for all businesses, while others are specifically for veterans.  

 About the SBA

The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.  Follow SBA on Twitter and like SBA on Facebook to learn about new developments and news of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov

Date:Tuesday, November 3, 2020 from 1pm to 2pm EST

Link:https://readytalk.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1360309&tp_key=3b1af00f2f&sti=scoreeventpage

In the final quarter of this most unusual and challenging year, there is still time to take actions that can favorably impact your bottom line and your tax bill for 2020. These measures relate to your employees, your customers, your equipment, and your operations and reflect big changes made by the SECURE Act, the CARES Act, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and other legislation (including extension of the Paycheck Protection Program), as well IRS pronouncements. Whether you work with a CPA or go it alone, attorney and prolific author Barbara Weltman will discuss which tax breaks apply to you and how to nail them down now before times runs out.

In this webinar you'll learn:

• Year-end actions to reduce your 2020 tax bill
• Refund opportunities to recoup taxes paid in prior years
• Strategies for potential tax changes to come
• Necessary actions to get ready for 2021

For more questions, please contact Lonnie Koyama at leon.koyama@sba.gov