October 2021
Conquering Risk
This past month, Americas SBDC held its annual national conference virtually. The theme was "Conquering Risk", and one presenter, author Emily McHugh, International Trade Consultant for the Florida SBDC, made the observation that "the biggest risk of all is INERTIA." Why? In today's changing business environment, not even stagnation is safe. Moving forward is a risk worth embracing. The consultants and staff of the Aurora-South Metro SBDC took in a wealth of information and are ready to share their knowledge and expertise with you. Request an appointment today! There are so many opportunities for small businesses below. Please scroll down, read on and click for more information.
Begins October 5th! Do you own a child care center and want to make it a more successful business? Join this six-week series on Tuesday evenings, October 5 - November 16, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, (skip Oct. 19th)
FREE, register here or call 303-326-8693.
11th annual Advance Colorado Procurement Expo
October 7, 2021, 9AM - 12PM
NOW VIRTUAL and FREE
The Advance Colorado Procurement Expo will be an interactive and rewarding event. Meet government procurement professionals to discuss how to best sell your goods and services and much more. Workshops include:

  • Selling Goods and Services in State and Local Government Transportation
  • How to Do Business with the State of Colorado
  • Doing Business with City of Aurora
  • Creating Equity Through Certification

Learn more and register via the event website. Register by Oct. 5. If you have any questions, please reach out: mbo@state.co.us.

For those who have already purchased your tickets, you will be issued a full refund, but we will maintain your registration for the virtual event.
For entrepreneurs in business one year or less. Thursday, October 7, 6PM-8PM, FREE
Followed by:
This four-part business planning program begins Tuesdays, October 12, 6PM-9PM
Social Media Training in Spanish
¿Confundido? Mejora la Presencia de tu Negocio en las Redes Sociales
Jueves, Octubre 14, 21 y 28
5PM-7PM, $99
seminario virtual 
Cybersecurity Summit for Small Businesses
Thursday, October 28, 9AM - 4PM
All Virtual -- Tracks include:
  • Governance, Risk and Compliance
  • Cybersecurity Basics
  • Key Notes for the experts
Veterans Small Business Conference
The premier business training event for veteran entrepreneurs -- In Person
Thursday, November 4th
8:00 AM-2:30 PM
Pinery at the Hill, Colorado Springs
It's National Women’s Small Business Month!
Isabella Casillas Guzman serves as the 27th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Learn more about her entrepreneurial spirit here: www.sba.gov/person/isabella-casillas-guzman.
National Hispanic Heritage Month extends through October 15th.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau:
  • Hispanics are the nation’s second-fastest-growing racial or ethnic group after Asian Americans.
  • Twelve states, including Colorado, has a population of 1 million or more Hispanic residents.
According to the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative:
  • Latinos are starting businesses at a faster rate than the national average across almost all industries.
  • In pre-pandemic times, Hispanic-owned employer businesses generated nearly $500 billion in annual revenue and employed 3.4 million people.

Make an appointment with an SBDC bi-lingual business consultant:
info@Aurora-SouthMetroSBDC.com or (303) 326-8686.
Para mas información en español, llame al: (303) 326-8808.
COVID-19 Job Recovery Hiring and Retention Bonus -- Is your Englewood business having difficult attracting and retaining employees?  The City of Englewood is now offering eligible businesses a maximum $2,000 grant to recruit and retain one employee. Eligible businesses include Englewood restaurants, bars, retail, personal services, and gyms that employ 25 or fewer employees and that are in good standing with the city.  
To learn more about Englewood business grants and to apply, visit Englewood Invests/Grants.
Colorado Employee Ownership Office -- Employee-owned businesses promote a higher quality of life for employee-owners including higher wages, less turnover, access to better benefits, and job security. For the business owner, they get the benefit of a more engaged workforce, a guaranteed succession plan, and a way to attract and retain top talent.
Business Idea Lab -- Do you want to start a business? We can help! Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute (RMMFI) is accepting applications for our next cohort of Business Idea Lab in Aurora. Business Idea Lab helps entrepreneurs turn their business dream into a fully-formed business idea. This 5-session program covers the basics of business ownership and what personal characteristics and commitment it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Idea Lab sets entrepreneurs up for success in the next step of RMMFI programming, Business Launch Boot Camp, and seed loans are available upon completion of the program. Applications are due October 13.
Learn more and sign up at: https://www.rmmfi.org/re-launch.
The Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the USPTO -- Several Intellectual Property (IP) events start in October and each one will be presented in Spanish, followed by an English equivalent. Take a look at all these and more information-packed sessions, including The Path to a Patent series and the Trademark Basics Boot Camp series.
USPTO-hosted events are free of charge. Follow this link for more events.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES and RESOURCES
COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
COVID EIDL is an expansion of the federal disaster relief loan designed to better serve and support small business communities still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms and hotels. The SBA is ready to receive new applications immediately from small businesses looking to take advantage of these new policy changes. COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt. Learn more about eligibility and application requirements. The last day that applications may be received is December 31, 2021. All applicants should file their applications as soon as possible.

Questions on SBA EIDL disaster loan payments can be answered by email at: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov or by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center:
1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339). Ask to speak with a loan officer, provide all pertinent contact information and include your loan number.
SBA streamlines forgiveness process for most PPP loans

For borrowers whose lender is participating in the SBA's direct forgiveness, use the SBA PPP Direct Forgiveness Portal to apply. Direct forgiveness borrowers must use the SBA forgiveness portal. The questions you will be asked in the portal correspond to those asked on SBA form 3508S. Click here for a list of participating lenders.

For borrowers whose lender is not participating, you must apply through your lender's portal. Contact your lender for further guidance on how to submit the application.

Learn more about forgiveness at this SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness link.
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Send a message to the SBDC today:
Email is best; working remotely most days
(303) 326-8686

(303) 326-8808