Monthly Newsletter
Director's Corner:
Reflection from Tasha,
Executive Director
We promised you that April showers bring May flowers, and we are giving you just that as we graduate our inaugural class of thirty entrepreneurs from our 12-week small business training program, Ready! Set! Launch!

Just as the May flower, lily of the valley, symbolizes hope, so does this great group of future business leaders! We will continue to celebrate their success as they look to build their businesses and provide products and services to our St. Louis marketplace and beyond.

We look forward to acknowledging them with a graduation ceremony and with continuous support along their journey.

We invite you and individuals you may know, who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are seeking an opportunity to learn and grow, to join us at the WBC. We remain committed to making dreams come true. With our team and the Urban League, our partners, and our community, we know we can!

- Tasha Pettis-Bonds
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Women’s Business Center
Executive Director
SBA RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND:

SBA will begin accepting Restaurant Revitalization Fund registrations on Friday at 9am ET and open applications on Monday, May 3 at 12pm ET. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.

SBA recommends qualifying applicants prepare by:

  1. Registering for an account at restaurants.sba.gov starting on Friday at 9am ET.
  2. Reviewing the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and application sample: https://www.sba.gov/restaurants
  3. Preparing the required documentation: https://www.sba.gov/restaurants
  4. Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting restaurants.sba.gov to submit an application when the application portal opens. [Note: If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site.]
  5. For the first 21 days that the program is open, SBA will prioritize funding applications from businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

All eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as the portal opens. Following the 21 days, all eligible applications will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about the #RestaurantRevitalizationFund: https://www.sba.gov/restaurants
Interested in working with us? Contact us!
(314) 584-6700 or wbcinfo@urbanleague-stl.org

Keep reading below for more info on our NEW Industry-Specific Initiatives, and recurring events.
NEW INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC INITIATIVES!
Is your answer as a business owner "YES" to any of the following questions:
 
- Did you begin your business before the pandemic but had to halt opening?
- Did you lose business during the pandemic and need to rebrand or rebuild your business?
- Did you lose employees during the pandemic?
- Was your business disrupted in any way due to the pandemic?
 
If you answered "YES" to any of the above, then our new industry-specific initiatives may be right for you! Designed to better equip you or support you on your business journey during this pandemic.
 
Check out our FOUR new business training programs below. Register here: Industry Specific Small Business Initiatives Application

Registration will close May 4th. Limited spots available. $25 deposit (refunded upon attendance of program) required to reserve spot. Please be aware that CDC guidelines will be followed at all in-person events. For questions, email achestnut@urbanleague-stl.org or call 314-584-6700.
Restaurants & Catering 8-Week Business Training Program:
May 11th – June 29th, Tuesdays 5-7 pm, in person
Trucking & Transportation 4-Week Business Training Program:
May 14th – June 4th, Fridays 12-1 pm, on Zoom
Real Estate 4-Week Brokerage Business Training Program:
May 13th – June 3rd, Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, in person
Early Childhood Development (Daycare) 4-Week Business Training Program: June 2nd – June 23rd, Wednesdays 6-8 pm, in person
Virtual Lunch with a Banker

Weekly Wednesday Workshop!

You asked, we delivered!
More Business Banking-focused workshops on various FAQ's.
Every Wednesday at Noon.
See below for the weekly topics and links to register.
Wed, May 5, 2021 12:00 PM CST
Virtual Lunch With a Banker - Understanding Cash Flow with Regions Bank
Wed, May 12, 2021 12:00 PM CST
Virtual Lunch With a Banker - Preparing for Small Business Loans- US Bank
Wed, May 19, 2021 12:00 PM CST
Virtual Lunch With a Banker - Merchant Services- US Bank
Wed, May 26, 2021 12:00 PM CST
Virtual Lunch With a Banker - Payroll Services- John Colbert
Virtual Legal Clinic, every month,
with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.
An opportunity to ask questions 1-1 with a volunteer attorney about business formation, trademark, employees/contractors, and more.
Sign up for a 30 minute session below.
Tue, May 18, 2021 5:00 PM CST
Legal Clinic
In case you missed it - We have a new website!

Check it out at: www.ulstlwbc.com
or click the button below. You can read more about our services and resources, meet our team, leave us a review, and more!
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