News Release
PRESS OFFICE
Release Date: Feb. 05, 2016
Release Number: SDOPR 16-06
Contact SBA: Matthew Williams (206) 553-7315
Contact PCLS: Beth Luce (253)548-3353
Website: www.sba.gov/wa
Your Business - Start Smart: Workshops Bring Free
Entrepreneurship Training Throughout Pierce County
U.S. Small Business Administration’s Seattle District Office, Pierce County Library
System partner on entrepreneurial education program
PIERCE COUNTY – Monthly free entrepreneurship workshops for 2016 will kick-off in February
throughout Pierce County to bring education to people who are interested in starting their own
businesses but are unaware of the many free resources available to them.
Your Business - Start Smart is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) Seattle District Office and the Pierce County Library System (PCLS).
The program pulls together resources from the SBA, its resource partners, and the Pierce County
Library System to provide a two-hour seminar covering the following five topics:
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Characteristics and motivations of entrepreneurs
Initial considerations, steps and planning
Financing options
Market research tools
Local resources
“By combining our resources and communication channels together, we can more effectively
connect entrepreneurs in Pierce County with local resources,” SBA Seattle District Director
Nancy Porzio said. “The library has branch locations in nearly every community, which enables
us to meet people where they live and connect them with our many–and often free–resources in
mentoring, financing and education.”
In 2015, a pilot of the Start Smart program was implemented in the Seattle, King County and
Pierce County Library Systems. On evaluations from the pilot program, attendees stated the
information was helpful, expressed gratitude for bringing the program to their area and indicated
they had no idea so many free resources were available to them.
“Pierce County Library System is excited to connect small business owners to this expertise and
a wealth of resources,” said Jaime Prothro, customer experience manager. “We’re confident
these workshops will help our local businesses thrive.”
In addition to the initial Start Smart class, the program will deliver workshops focused on
financing, growing, franchising, marketing, online retailing and planning.
Your Business - Start Smart
Feb. 18 – Lakewood Pierce County Library
May 19 – Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library
Your Business - Finance Smart
March 17 – South Hill Pierce County Library
Your Business - Market Smart
April 21 – South Hill Pierce County Library
July 21 – Gig Harbor Pierce County Library
Your Business - Franchise Smart
June 16 – Lakewood Pierce County Library
Your Business - Sell Online Smart
Sept. 15 – Sumner Pierce County Library
Your Business - Plan Smart
Oct. 20 – Parkland/ Spanaway Pierce County Library
Your Business - Grow Smart
Nov. 17 – University Place Pierce County Library
Find details about the Start Smart program and classes throughout Western Washington.
About the SBA Seattle District Office:
The SBA Seattle District serves Washington State and northern Idaho with office locations in
Seattle and Spokane. Today’s SBA stands for more than Small Business Administration; it
stands for Smart, Bold and Accessible. SBA staff provides resources and services in three areas
referred to as “the three C’s” – Counseling, Capital and Contracting. Visit www.sba.gov/wa for
local information including resource partners, lenders, events and workshops, success stories,
news and updates, and other information aimed to help business start, grow and succeed.
About Pierce County Library System
The nationally acclaimed Pierce County Library System serves more than 563,000 people
throughout the county with 20 branches and online services. The system is the fourth largest in
the state and is funded primarily through property taxes.
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