Calendar of Events › Small Business Classes

Join the Business Librarian for a session on proposal writing. Learn the key components of a proposal that a nonprofit foundation is looking for, and how you can make your proposal as effective as possible.

How do you promote your business using Facebook? Learn about resources to plan, start and grow your business using this social networking website.

Join our Business Librarian for an introduction to the world of foundation fundraising. Learn various aspects of the nonprofit world, tips on how to approach a foundation for funding and various other tactics that can make your fundraising more efficient and effective.

Learn how to research your market, customers and competitors in this series on market research co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Learn how to research your competitors using the ReferenceUSA database and how to prepare a competitor profile.

Registration is required.

Learn how to research your market, customers and competitors in this series on market research co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Learn how to use the Business Decision database to find customer demographics and how to prepare a customer profile.

Registration required.

This brand-new four part series brings useful instruction on developing good money manners to help you cultivate and maintain a more responsible and productive relationship with your money. Learn easy-to-follow methods for identifying and working through money-related issues, how to set goals, and develop a personal spending plan. Registration is required.

Part 1 (September 26): Know the Flow: learn how to create a personal balance sheet, calculate your net worth and create a cash flow statement.

Part 2 (October 10): Money – Getting to Know You: learn how spending is a habit, gain insight into your relationship with money, and discover how to build your net worth.

Part 3 (October 24): Getting S.M.A.R.T. About Goal Setting and Spending: learn how to set financial goals and develop a spending plan.

Part 4 (November 7): Manage Your Future Now: Learn how to avoid investment fraud and scams, understand the step-by-step sequence for making better investment decisions and how to make asset allocation and diversification based on your goals.

Learn how to research your market, customers and competitors in this series on market research co-sponsored by the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center.

What is market research and why is it necessary? We will go over the basics of market research, including a demonstration of how to prepare a market profile.

Registration required.

Finding work is hard work, especially in today’s economy. There are so many questions we ask: Do I buy a new suit or wear what I have? How should my resume look? Which career is best for me? Should I work for someone else or start my own business? Career coach Joan Epperson will teach job seekers the best practices and skills for career seeking and transition. In three two-hour mentoring session, she will cover resume tactics, leveraging resources, creating winning first impressions and other techniques that will enable participants to define their aspirations and pursue them. Participants will receive personal feedback and coaching. Free and open to the public. Class size is limited to 20 participants. Register for all three workshops.