Small Business Accelerated Growth

This training pathway will educate small business owners about the importance of having an online presence while explaining the fundamentals of a digital marketing strategy to reach target audiences.

During this seven week program, business owners will: 

• Learn how to establish an online presence and the value of different social media channels
• Attend three no cost consultation sessions
• Learn how to give your business a competitive edge by reviewing website best practices to increase website traffic and improve user experience
• Learn how to implement specific tips to develop your e-commerce site

This program has a competitive application process and will determine a businesses eligibility for the training pathway and grant. Your responses to the application questions are scored based upon the parameters of the program requirements. Participating in the program does not guarantee a grant award. From the applications received, 250 will be selected to take this training pathway. 40 of the 250 will be selected to receive a $5,000 grant, based on the performance in the training and presentation of their marketing plan.

Content is created by the Aurora South Metro Small Business Development Center for use by the entire Colorado Small Business Development Center Network.

Eligibility and geographic regions

Eligible businesses must:

• have been in operation in the state of Colorado for at least one year
• have 19 or fewer employees, including the business owner, full time, and part time employees. Two half time employees will be equivalent to one full time employee.

Preference will be offered to businesses located in one or more of the following geographic regions:

• Colorado Opportunity Zone
• Enterprise Zone
• Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone) 
• Rural Jump Start Zone
• Tier One Just Transition region

Apply

This training pathway closed August 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

This educational content will help you identify your capital needs, assess the financial health of your business, and prepare for a loan application. This program focuses on financial business practices such as accounting, profit and loss, cash flow, and other financial topics.

Timeline

This program has a competitive application process and accepted applications will be determined based on capacity and eligibility. If our capacity has been met with eligible participants the application may close early.

Program Schedule

Applications

• Open:  June 5, 2023
• Close: July 5, 2023

Course and Consulting Schedule

• Notification to participants selected for training program: Week of July 17, 2023
• Course #1 –  August 8, 2023
• Consulting Week #1 – August 14, 2023 (Consultant Virtual Check - In)
• Course #2 – August 22, 2023
• Consulting #2 – August 28, 2023  (Consultant Virtual Check - In)
• Course #3 – September 5, 2023
• Consulting #3 – September 11, 2023 (Consultant Virtual Check - In)
• Results for grants awardees announced week of October 16, 2023

Grant application

Once you have completed the online coursework and consulting sessions for this program, you may apply for a grant if you meet all eligibility requirements. Each eligible business that is selected and has successfully completed this course may receive a grant of $5,000. Completion of the educational programming does not guarantee the grant. This grant is competitive. Grant awardees will be chosen based on program engagement scores and scored application responses.

Eligibility and Geographic Regions

Eligible businesses must:

• have been in operation in the state of Colorado for at least one year
• have 19 or fewer employees, including the business owner, full time, and part time employees

Preference will be offered to businesses located in one or more of the following geographic regions:

• Colorado Opportunity Zone
• Enterprise Zone
• Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone) 
• Rural Jump Start Zone
• Tier One Just Transition region

Apply

This training pathway closed July 5, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Please note, this program will be offered in English and Spanish. This website can be translated into 133 languages using the Google Translate™ tool on the top right of our webpage.

Tenga en cuenta que este programa se ofrecerá en inglés y español. Esta página web se puede traducir a 133 idiomas usando la herramienta Google Translate™ en la parte superior derecha de nuestra página web.

This training pathway provides support for business owners to work with experts to outline:

• The current business model
• What products are being offered
• Identifying the target market and audiences for the product
• How to reach the target market and audiences

Going through this process will make businesses more competitive to bring their product to the appropriate markets and consumers.

This is a competitive grant application. Each eligible business that is selected and has successfully completed this course may receive a grant of up to $8,000 to put their learning in practice.

Content is created by the Boulder Small Business Development Center for use by the entire Colorado Small Business Development Center Network.

Eligibility and geographic regions

Eligible businesses must:

• have been in operation in the state of Colorado for at least one year
• have 19 or fewer employees, including the business owner, full time, and part time employees

Preference will be offered to businesses located in one or more of the following geographic regions:

• Colorado Opportunity Zone
• Enterprise Zone
• Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone) 
• Rural Jump Start Zone
• Tier One Just Transition region

Each of these 3 training pathways offer unique and critical small business ownership skills to grow your business. We encourage you to choose the topic that would be most beneficial for your business. You may also choose to apply for more than one pathway, if you would like.