Training Opportunities and Events
On-Site Training Opportunities
The Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center, often in partnership with SCORE, offers various training opportunities at our conveniently located facility several times per year. Typical offerings include:
- Going Into Business
- Business Finance Series
- Sales Tax
- Procurement and Government Contracts
- Making Your Marketing Dollars Stretch
View the list of current offerings provided by Mn Small Business Development Centers
Upcoming Events
"Export Essentials; Strategies for Growing Global Series"
The Small Business Development Center is excited to partner with the Minnesota Trade Office to bring you this 3-series program on growing your business through exporting. The registration fee includes lunch and all class materials. A networking lunch is part of the series to allow you time to discuss exporting with other business owners. If you've already begun researching this process and are ready for the next step or if you are wondering what the export process is all about, this series is for you. One-to-one business counseling available with MTO. For additional curriculum information, please contact Mary Jo Stangl at (651) 259-7495, mary.jo.stangl@state.mn.us or visit the MN Trade Office at www.exportminnesota.com
TO REGISTER for Export Essentials:
E-mail: mto.edu@state.mn.us
Include your name, title, company name, contact information, website, which session(s) you are registering for.
Fax: (651) 297-4265
Payment: Pay at the door, checks payable to MN Trade Office
Export Process: An Introduction to Exporting
Export Process offers an overview of the exporting process, including assessing your export readiness; making the sale, arranging shipments and collecting payment.
Fee: $50 (includes networking lunch)
Instructors: Minnesota Trade Office
Location: Business & Industry Center, E208
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. program, networking lunch to follow (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
International Market Research
Work through a process and a resource guide containing information freely available to businesses to help them make the best decisions about marketing products and services internationally. Find resources to determine the best markets, market-entry barriers, cultural considerations, trade leads, company lists and more.
Fee: $50 (includes networking lunch)
Instructors: Minnesota Trade Office
Location: Business & Industry Center, E208
Date: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. program, networking lunch to follow (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
Finding and Motivating the Right Foreign Business Partner
Locate, qualify, select and motivate independent distributors and representatives. The seminar will include market entry strategies; legal definitions of distributors and agents; strategies for locating and selecting the right distributor; elements of a distributor agreement; and how to motivate and cultivate distributor loyalty.
Fee: $50 (includes networking lunch)
Instructors: Minnesota Trade Office
Location: Business & Industry Center, E208
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. program, includes networking lunch (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
"Strengthening Rural and Urban Connections to Foster Innovation" Videoconference facilitated by the USDA and Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc., hosted at the Small Business Development Center
Minnesota Rural Partners, Inc., in a cooperative effort with the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, is launching a pilot project aimed at strengthening rural and urban connections. The goal is to foster increased innovation and job growth between rural and urban areas. The end result, organizes hope, will benefit not just Minnesota, but will also provide a road map for other states.
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Location: 616 Roosevelt Rd., Ste. 100, St. Cloud, MN 56301 (Small Business Development Center site) Please do not rely on MapQuest or GPS, as those technologies direct you to an inaccurate location. For accurate directions, please refer to the following URL: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp
To Register: http://blog.rurb.mn/videoconferences
Specific topics for discussion during this videoconference: manufacturing, workforce readiness and renewable energy. If you are unable to attend, but would still like to provide feedback about this project, please provide feedback via the following options: e-mail at feedback@rurb.mn, via Twitter at http://twitter.com/rurbmn, or comment at http://blog.rurb.mn
"QuickBooks" presented by Julie Popp, hosted by SCSU Continuing Studies and the Small Business Development Center
Cost: $75.00
Date: February 22, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: 616 Roosevelt Rd., Ste. 100, St. Cloud, MN 56301 (Small Business Development Center site) Please do not rely on MapQuest or GPS, as those technologies direct you to an inaccurate location. For accurate directions, please refer to the following URL: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp
Topics covered:
- Getting Started
- Setting Up
- Working with Lists
- Working with Bank Accounts
- Using Other Accounts in QuickBooks
- Entering Sales Information
- Receiving Payments & Making Deposits
- Entering and Paying Bills
- Analyzing Financial Data
- Tracking and Paying Sales Tax
- Doing Payroll
- Tracking Time
- Customizing Forms & Writing QuickBooks Letters
Registration Information: Register via www.stcloudstate.edu/continuingstudies/ceo/events.asp
Questions: Contact Tammy Anhalt-Warner at 308-4252 or e-mail: ccs@stcloudstate.edu
"State Tax Workshops 'Basic Minnesota Sales and Use Tax'" presented by the MN Department of Revenue
This class provides participants with a basic understanding of the goods and services subject to these taxes. Other topics include situations when use tax is due, exemption-certificate use, record-keeping and filing information.
Dates & Times: This workshop offers two sessions. The first session is on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the second session is on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Minnesota Center for Business Development, 616 Roosevelt Road, Suite 100, St. Cloud, MN 56301
Please do not rely on MapQuest or GPS, as those technologies direct you to an inaccurate location. For accurate directions, please refer to the following URL: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp
To Register: Please follow this Register Here
Questions: Please contact Sandra Welch at (651) 556-6819 or sandra.welch@state.mn.us
"Minnesota Sales Tax for Capital Equipment and Industrial Production" presented by the MN Department of Revenue
This workshop is for businesses that make products. Topics covered include definitions of industrial production, capital equipment, exemptions from sales tax and refunds. The focus is on the practical management of sales tax.
Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Minnesota Center for Business Development, 616 Roosevelt Road, Suite 100, St. Cloud, MN 56301
Please do not rely on MapQuest or GPS, as those technologies direct you to an inaccurate location. For accurate directions, please refer to the following URL: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp
Questions: Please contact Sandra Welch at (651) 556-6819 or sandra.welch@state.mn.us
"Legal Issues for Small Business Owners"
Corporate Education & Outreach, LegalCORPS and the Small Business Development Center for the Central Minnesota Region are collaborating to present a seminar on legal topics of interest for business startups.
The seminar will include three 40-minute segments:
- Basics of Contracts and Leases presented by Susan M. Kadlee from Rajkowski Hansmeier
- Basics of Employment Law - including distinctions between independent contractors and employees presented by Jacqueline M. Schuh from Gray Plant Mooty
- Basics of Intellectual Property Law - including explanations of trade names and trademarks, copyrights and patents presented by Tom Mathews from Hughes Mathews
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Location: Minnesota Center for Business Development, 616 Roosevelt Road, Suite 100, St. Cloud, MN 56301
Please do not rely on MapQuest or GPS, as those technologies direct you to an inaccurate location. For accurate directions, please refer to the following URL: http://www.stcloudstate.edu/sbdc/contact.asp
Cost: $49 Early Bird Registration by February 12, 2010 and $59 Registration after February 12, 2010
Questions: Please contact Tammy at (320) 308-4252 or ccs@stcloudstate.edu
On-going Events
The Small Business Development Center and LegalCORPS have teamed up to bring a valuable tool for success to the small business owners of Central Minnesota.
The “Brief Advice Legal Clinic,” staffed by local volunteer attorneys, provides brief advice and information on non-litigation legal issues free of charge.
Clinics will be held twice monthly, typically on Wednesdays, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Small business owners can schedule a 30-minute appointment by contacting the Small Business Development Center at 320-308-4842, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
‘Breakfast with the B.E.S.T.’ (Building Excellence through Strategic Thinking)
Stearns-Benton Employment and Training Council invites you to join them for their dynamic monthly breakfast training seminars designed to keep your business on the cutting edge of change and innovation.
Cost: $25.00. Sessions run 7:00-8:30 a.m. at the MN WorkForce Center, SCTC, 1542 Northway Dr., Door 2, St. Cloud. Register by calling: Rosie Beager, 320-308-5701 or e-mail: admissions@workforceu.com
| 'Breakfast with the B.E.S.T.' Schedule | |
| Feb 10 | Keeping Employee Morale Strong in Tough Times |
| Mar 10 | Taking Care of Number 2 |
| Apr 14 | Taking Inside Sales Beyond Order Taking |
Online Training Resources
Online training opportunities exist through the following agencies:
Links to other online learning opportunities:
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and regional support partners. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the program sponsors. Programs are open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Disability Services Coordinator at 800-933-0346, ext. 8128.
