8a Business Development Program on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. The 8(a) Program is a business assistance program for helping socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs gain a foothold in government contracting. Learn more about eligibility, requirements, and steps to applying. Register here. We All Keep Score- The Fundamentals of Personal Credit on Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. Learn about your credit score and what it can say about you. The topics of discussion are how your score is calculated, who generates the score, where to get a free copy and how it can be improved or cleaned. Register here. SCORE: Your Business - From Vision to Reality on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Answer the 8 questions that are at the heart of any entrepreneurial business plan. Whether you have a fully established business or are just formulating your ideas, one of your biggest challenges is making your vision a reality. In this workshop, you will have an opportunity to clarify for yourself (and your team) Who you are (and what kind of people do you want to surround yourself with) Why do you do what you do (what ignites your passion, purpose or cause) What do you do better than everyone else What are your long and short-term goals and how will you get there You will come out of the session with a clear and actionable plan and tools to keep you accountable for executing your strategy. Register here. Ascent for Women Entrepreneurs Program on March 1 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. Are you a female entrepreneur who wants to grow or scale your existing business? Learn best practices in SBA’s online learning platform – specifically designed for women in business! Register here. Business Development Webinar Series - Starting Your Business in the USVI on March 2 at 11 a.m. VI SBDC. 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. SCORE : Building a Paid Market Strategy on March 9 at 7 a.m. with VI SBDC. Trying to build a strong paid marketing strategy that increases your lead generation and bottom line? Learn the basics of paid advertising through marketing, key platforms to utilize, and tools to build a strategy to grow sales. Learn the advantages of different marketing outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, Google, and Amazon. Hear tips on how to utilize each platform effectively and how to capitalize on paid advertising for sales and lead generation. Learn: Budgeting effectively; Analytics that matter in paid advertising; Building a strong funnel using ads; Effective content creation; Targeting a specific audience. Register here. SBA Webinar Tuesday: How to Prepare a Capability Statement on March 15 at 11 a.m. with VI SBDC. Any organization interested in pursuing government contracts needs a Capability Statement as a prerequisite to submitting a quote, bid or proposal. Learn how to make your organization’s unique value proposition work for you. 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: International E-commerce For Small Businesses on March 15 at 6 p.m. with VI SBDC. This workshop will reveal the opportunities and tools needed to successfully launch and grow a B2C revenue stream from international consumers. We will distill the main elements with practical and hands-on activities in order to define a plan and launch within 30 days. Have an e-commerce site? Want to know what it would take to grow your cross-border transactions? According to the International Monetary Fund, 87% of the world economic growth will take place outside of the US. For Cross border B2C e-commerce, that represents over US1.2 trillion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) transactions by the year 2022 – with a 25% growth rate. 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. 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.

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