Wednesday, October 3
HUBZones 101 (Rhode Island Small Business Development Center – Johnson & Wales University, TACO Center, 10 Abbott Park Place in Providence from 10:00am – 12:00pm and is free of charge. For more information or to register, please visit www.risbdc.org or call 401-598-2702):
This workshop will help you understand the programs and services available from the U. S. Small Business Administration. Learn about government contracting opportunities that are available through the SBA’s HUBZone program.
The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. The Federal Government buys everything from paperclips to aircraft carriers. There are 44 designated “HUBZones” in Rhode Island, of which, 27 reside in the city of Providence, 5 are in Woonsocket, 4 in both Pawtucket and Central Falls, and 2 in Newport. The entire Narragansett Indian Reservation is also a HUBZone.
Benefits of the HUBZone Program
* Competitive and sole source contracting
* 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontracting opportunities
* The federal government has a goal of awarding 3% of all dollars for federal prime contracts to HUBZone-certified small business concerns
To see if your business is located in a HUBZone, simply visit http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/maps/
The Federal HUBZone Program certifies small businesses located in eligible urban and rural areas gain access to federal contracts. Eligibility for both certifications will be discussed along with information on free technical assistance available from the Rhode Island Procurement Technical Assistance Center (RIPTAC).
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Thursday, October 4
Losses & Fraud (Rhode Island Small Business Development Center – Johnson & Wales University, TACO Center, Room 417, 10 Abbott Park Place in Providence from 6:00 – 9:00pm and is free of charge. For more information or to register, please visit www.risbdc.org or call 401-598-2702):
Fraud is a continuing concern of business owner and financial professionals, whose jobs are to protect businesses’ payment transactions from traditional and emerging fraud schemes? Research by the Fed, the Association for Financial Professional, and others will be summarized and reviewed to identify what payment types are most vulnerable to fraud attacks and losses, and what schemes are most prevalent today. Participants to this seminar will gain a better understanding of their payment fraud risks and actions available to mitigate those risks.
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Tuesday, October 9
Business Continuity Planning (U.S. Small Business Administration, City of Providence, Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, Center for Women & Enterprise – Providence Emergency Operations Center, 591 Charles Street in Providence from 4:00 – 6:00pm and is free of charge. To register, please email providence.ri@sba.gov or call the SBA at 401-528-4561):
Did you know that 40% of companies that shut down for 3 days after a disaster strikes, fail within 36 months? If a disaster strikes your business, are you prepared? Join us for this innovative and information packed workshop where you will learn about what you need to do to protect your business and how to gain access to both local and federal resources. SBA Rhode Island District Director, Mark S. Hayward, will guide through the resources available through the SBA is a disaster does strike your business. Lori Adamo of Code Red Business Continuity Services will show you what you need to prepare your business, and Col. Pete Gaynor of the Providence Emergency Management Agency will speak about resources available on the local level.
Community Entrepreneurs Phase Two: Business Planning (Center for Women & Enterprise – 132 George M. Cohan Boulevard, Providence from 6:00 – 9:00pm and runs 14 weeks through January 22, 2013. Fee is $550 for all 14 classes. Partial scholarships may be available. To register, please visit www.cweboston.org , call 401-277-0800 or email ngirard@cweonline.org):
The next step in CEP involves getting your business on the right track! In this second phase, you will:
* Determine the feasibility of your business concept
* Work with other business owners and CWE experts to prepare a viable, funding-ready business plan
* Find options for financing your business and understand and organize your financial documents
* Learn how to market yourself and your business to target customers
* Identify solutions to typical start-up problems and challenges
* Learn step-by-step how to start and operate your own business efficiently and effectively
* Actively participate in class time and in one-on-one consulting sessions
* Access to a computer and knowledge of MS Word and Excel is recommended
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Thursday, October 11
Maintaining Trade Secrets For Business Inventions (Rhode Island Small Business Development Center – Johnson & Wales University, Johnson Hall, 59 Chestnut Street in Providence from 8:00 – 10:00am and is free of charge. For more information or to register, please visit www.risbdc.org or call 401-598-2702):
According to Rhode Island General Laws 6-41-1, a trade secret is defined as information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that: (i) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
This class will assist a business owner how to develop, protect, monetize, and maintain trade secrets within an organization. More particularly, this seminar will provide the following:
- Lean about the basics of what a trade secret comprises in contrast to a patent, trademark, or copyright
- Learn how to identify valuable trade secrets within your organization
- Learn how to protect your trade secrets using the law
- Learn how to setup a compliance program to maintain the legal protection of your trade secrets
- Lean how to monetize your trade secrets
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