Entrepreneurial Training Program - In an effort to improve service delivery, the GBRC initiated a Comprehensive Business Training Program in June of 2000.  To date, 687 participants have completed the program.  This project was originally intended to accommodate 25 participants; however, after the first session participant enrollment was so large that two classes per week had to be conducted.  The project is now entering the twentieth session with two classes per week being conducted since the second session.

 

In its inception, limited staff and funding nearly prevented the Business Resource Centre from conducting this project.  However, partnerships were formed with other business development service providers and organizations, which agreed to assign staff to teach a curriculum that was purchased by the GBRC.  The training partnership evolved into a consortium that has taken on the name “Tulsa Association for Enterprise Opportunity”.  Beginning with eight partnering organizations, The Association is now comprised of nineteen contributing entities.

 

·        Each partner provides at least one instructor to teach a minimum of one week or two classes per training session.  Instructors are assigned to the project as agency volunteers at no compensation.

·        This project includes several small business lenders that are available to participants to help finance projects after program completion.

·        This business-training program is filling a void that exist community wide, serving Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Whites from various levels of economic strata.

 

Quarterly Business Seminars and Workshops - Conducting business seminars and workshops is a   Greenwood Business Resource Centre offering that began in 1995 when the Resource Centre project was launched.  Over the years, the Greenwood Business Resource Centre has concentrated on providing seminars and workshops that are in pace with the latest local and national business trends.  Attendance, interaction, and evaluations have been used to gauge the impact of GBRC workshops and seminars.  A partial list of the notable workshops and seminars include:

 

·        Vendor requirements for participating in local festivals

·        Start with Carts - Requirements for operating a cart in Woodland Hills Mall.

·        Customer Service – “How to Get and Make Customers for Life”

·        Designing a Web Page - Things to Consider

·        E-Commerce

·        Balancing Small Business - Presentations on Prepaid Legal Services, SBA Loan Process, Library Resources for Small Business, Business Plan Development, Sales & Marketing, Benefit Packages, Bookkeeping & Accounting, Interviewing & Selection Process

·        Using the computer for bookkeeping and maintaining records.

·        How to Prepare a Business Plan

·        Business Financial Checklist

·        Credit Repair for Business and Personal

·        Strategic Planning Workshop

·        North Tulsa Business Expo

 

     

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