Caribbean leaders are aiming to boost intra-regional travel, a topic set to be tackled in an upcoming virtual discussion series presented by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). “Rebuilding Intra-Caribbean Travel” will be held in two parts, with the first taking place on April 6 at 10 a.m., featuring distinguished public and private sector leaders and industry experts. Session One will present a profile of the intra-Caribbean traveler and look at the obstacles and opportunities for stimulating the recovery of intra-regional travel. U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. will headline this session. Session Two, to be held on April 7 at 10 a.m., will provide hotels and tourism-related businesses as well as destinations with insights and success stories on restoring and attracting the high potential intra-Caribbean travel market. Read more.

USVI Business Resiliency Series: Small Business Strategic Planning with VI SBDC on April 5 at 11 a.m. Find out what comes after receiving federal assistance with your business as a result of the pandemic. A strategic plan is critical to the success of an individual or an organization because it guides their action plan. It takes planning, structure and organization to start and stay in business. This webinar is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs alike, create an action-oriented strategic plan for their business/business idea to help them achieve success. Register here. SCORE: DIScover Effective Selling with VI SBDC on April 6 at 6 p.m. This workshop will use the DISC Model of Human Behavior to help business owners, salespeople and anyone involved in sales learn how to quickly connect with the buyer and sell the way the customer wants to buy. Selling is influencing, therefore, establishing credibility is essential to sales effectiveness. A strategy built on adapting to the “right fit” for a given prospect will reinforce credibility with every interaction! The training teaches you how to apply behavioral-based selling strategies, then adjust for each prospect’s behavior style. Register here. Employer Guidance in our COVID-19 World with VI SBDC and others on April 11 at 11:30 a.m. The U.S. Virgin Islands DRCVI, USVIEDA, VI SBDC, VIUCEDD and UVI, are pleased to announce collaboration with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Miami District. Join us for a live webinar on current best practices and timely resources for disability employment as it relates to COVID-19. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: The 5c's of SBA Loan Eligibility with VI SBDC on April 12 at 11 a.m. Each small business loan application a bank reviews is unique. Most lenders use "The Five C's of Credit" when making credit decisions -Capacity; Cash Flow; Character; Contribution and Collateral. Join us as we address each of these points to help you get the funding you need. Join SBA PR/USVI District Office Representatives as they share this information. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Register here. SCORE: Use a Six Month Budget to Guide Your Business' Recovery with VI SBDC on April 12 at 6 p.m. This hands-on workshop will give you the fundamentals you need to build a simple budget for your business. Don't run a business without a budget to guide you and help you make critical decisions. Learn how to forecast revenues and estimate your expenses. Putting a budget together isn't hard when you know what to do. Come to this workshop and get the knowledge needed. A good budget will show you what is coming at you. Will some months produce more expenses than revenue? If so, can you do something about it? Maybe you can move payments around. Profits from prior months can be put aside to cover the shortfall months. You might revise payment terms with customers to get a better flow of cash when you need it. Register here. Oriental Bank: Business Banking Concepts, Strategies and Best Practiceswith VI SBDC on April 19 at 11 a.m. How do you build business credit? What are lenders looking for when providing funding? Is your business ready to receive electronic forms of payment? Listen as a financial professionals from Oriental Bank explain business banking and the impact it has on your financial future. These tips and best practices can guide you in the right direction towards a healthy business banking relationship when planning to request access to capital with a lender. There will be mention of Oriental Bank programs, commercial digital solutions and accounts for small business owners. Join us as we celebrate Financial Literacy Month. Register here. Business Development Webinar Series - Starting Your Business in the USVI with VI SBDC on April 21 at 11 a.m. This webinar provides the "nuts and bolts" and beyond, for starting a business in the Virgin Islands. VI SBDC Business Counselor Mr. Greg Kopatch will go through ten questions that cover the most important issues that must be addressed by individuals interested in starting a business in the Virgin Islands. Since sixty percent of all businesses close by their sixth year, it is important to gain the information you need to know before you begin your business. Topics include: writing a business plan, legal structure options, state and local rules, regulations, and licensing requirements, marketing, cash flow projections, record keeping basics, and more. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: 504 and 7a SBA Guaranteed Loans with VI SBDC on April 26 at 11 a.m. Each small business loan application a bank reviews is unique. Most lenders use "The Five C's of Credit" when making credit decisions -Capacity; Cash Flow; Character; Contribution and Collateral. Join us as we address each of these points to help you get the funding you need. Join SBA PR/USVI District Office Representatives as they share this information. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: Government Contracting 101 with VI SBDC on May 10 at 11 a.m. We help you understand the federal contracting process, so you can find and win contracts with the federal government. Join SBA PR/USVI District Office Representatives as they share this information. Register here. USVI Financial Literacy Series: Accounting 101 on May 12 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. Learn basic bookkeeping knowledge so you can: Understand basic accounting terminology; Identify the differences between the cash and accrual accounting methods; Keep track of your business by becoming familiar with accounts payable and receivables; Use a journal and general ledger to document business financials; Utilize the balance sheet; Identify different types of financial statements; Understand the payroll process and employer responsibilities; Uncover the reasons for and actually create a budget; and become familiar with internal and external auditing. Listen as a financial professional from FirstBank explains the basics you should know about accounting. A question and answer segment is inlcuded. Presenter: Valdamier Collens, SVP & USVI Business Director. Register here. USVI Financial Literacy Series: Applying for a Business Loan on May 19 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. How do you build excellent business credit? What are lenders looking for when providing funding? What’s the importance of a business plan? All of these are important questions that you have probably considered at some point while starting or growing your business. Join this webinar and learn from a Banking professional the steps you need to take to obtain funding. Hear about the significance of a business plan as well as the five “Cs” of credit and the importance of building both excellent business credit as well as maintaining good personal credit. A question and answer segment is inlcuded. Presenter: Sharmane Brookes, VP & Commercial Business Mgr. & FB Commercial Lending Team. Register here. USVI Business Resiliency Series: Effective Marketing in 2022 with VI SBDC on May 20 at 11 a.m. Are you able to identify the difference between traditional marketing vs social media presence? Learn the essentials of advertising locally to stay in business. Topics to be discussed include networking, estabishing online presence, basic web design, managing multiple social media platforms at once and the overall impact of effective marketing. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: Disaster Preparedness with VI SBDC on May 24 at 11 a.m. Get help, plans and templates to prepare for natural disasters, to ensure business continuity in times of uncertainty. Join SBA PR/USVI District Office Representatives as they share this information. Register here. Financial Literacy Series: Fundamentals of Credit on May 26 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. Credit – what is credit? How do we use it? It is important to understand the benefit and responsibilities of credit and how to manage it wisely. Listen as a financial professional from FirstBank explains how to use credit in a safe and responsible way and the impact it has on your financial future. These tips and best practices can guide you in the right direction towards healthy credit. A question and answer segment is included. Presenter: Sharmane Brookes, VP & Commercial Business Mgr. & FB Commercial Lending Team. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: HUBZone Certification with VI SBDC on June 7 at 11 a.m. Did you know that the USVI is a designated HUBZone? The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. Join SBA PR/USVI District Office Representatives as they share this information. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: Deep Dive into Learning Resources from www.sba.gov with VI SBDC on June 21 at 11 a.m. SBA's online learning programs are designed to empower and educate small business owners every step of the way. Learn more about ASCENT, Boots to Business and Emerging Leaders, among others. Join SBA PR/USVI District Office Representatives as they share this information. Register here.

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