Events and Training

August SBDC events

Events are free but registration is required.

Working Washington Round 5 & Convention Center Grants

New Round - Working Washington Grants

Startup Networking Event

Startup founders are invited to join US Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-District 6) at a networking event celebrating Congressional Startup Day.

The event will start at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16th at Traction Space (748 Market Street, Tacoma) and is hosted by the Tacoma Maritime Innovation Incubator and TractionSpace.

Founders of all company types are welcome.

Please use this evite link to sign up:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tacoma-maritime-innovation-incubator-hosts-representative-derek-kilmer-tickets-399210839367?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

Online: Business Legal Workshop

September 14, 2022:  Business 101 Legal Workship – Virtual

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

All startups and small businesses are encouraged to attend.

Topics Covered:

• Business Entity Types
• Employee vs. Independent Contractors
• Contracts & Lease Agreements
• Intellectual Property

Bring Questions to Live Q&A

To sign up:  Eventbrite link to register

How to Do Business with the City of Tacoma

What:         A Zoom Workshop Hosted by the City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department

Topics covered:

·       Purchasing and Contracting processes

·       Tax and License Requirements

·       Applying for certification with the Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise (OMWBE)

·       Insurance/Bonding Requirements

·       Minority Business Development Agency – Technical Assistance

·       Optional Q&A

When:         Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Time:          11am – 12:30pm

Registration required, register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlduqopz8uH91bXaBvzyP5pZKRZcFa2HYt

For questions about this workshop, or to request information in an alternate format, please contact Gary Lizama at glizama@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5826.

Pierce County Lunch & Learn

August 17: 11:30 – 1:30

At Jazzy’s Cafe-Tacoma:  3701 S Lawrence St, Suite C

Topics include:

• Getting funding with the City of Tacoma
• What is a Grant?
• How to prepare a Grant Proposal
• What is SAM and how to get a UEI
• Growing your business
• How do I work through the system in T/PC

Register at:TPC-Lunch_and_Learn@hughesgroup.biz

Pre-order lunch through: info@jazzyscafetacoma.com

Speakers include:

Maddie Merton – Economic Development Board

Dierdre Patterson – City of Tacoma

Michael Jordan – The Black Collective

ScaleUp Training starts August 24

Register here> https://scaleupwashington.org/

Advanced business training for companies that have moved BEYOND startup and launch.

ScaleUp is about building capacity, increasing profitability, and automating business systems. The program will show you how to position your business for investment and ready you for that moment.

-Imagine your business as passive income through systemization

-Working ON your business, NOT in it

-Doubling or tripling revenues

-Increasing shareholder distributions

-Securing investors and investment

-Having an exit strategy that ensures MAXIMUM value when you sell

Trainers have years of experience building and scaling businesses and helping others do the same.

ScaleUp Business Training is NOT JUST a 9 week training program, it’s ongoing support and community.

Graduates of the ScaleUp program maintain access to all ScaleUp resources and ongoing mentorship through our weekly Study Hall program and Alumni Network.

Provided at NO COST to Washington State businesses through August 2022 through support from the Washington Department of Commerce and The Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County.

The path to seven figures starts here!   https://scaleupwashington.org/

Tech Startup Network event

COVID 19 Financial Support Survey

COVID-19 Related Relief Programs: Give us Your Feedback

We want to hear from you. SBA invites you to participate in a survey to assess your satisfaction with SBA’s customer service and communication on COVID-19 related grant and loan relief programs. The results will be used to monitor and improve the effectiveness of future SBA customer service and communications efforts. The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete for each program from which you obtained financial assistance.

Launch the survey

Tacoma Maritime Innovation Incubator

Applications are now open for entrepreneurs interested in support for commercializing solutions in the maritime, marine, clean energy and logistic and trade sectors.  Housed at the Center for Urban Waters on the Thea Foss Waterway, TMII provides 12 months of robust programming for startups in these sectors.

To apply:

https://forms.gle/Kvw7wst82jCYdfj57

Questions?  Contact Karina at Karina@maritimeblue.org

Pierce County Business Accelerator

MBDA events

NEW] Government Contracting Success Week – 4 Webinars [SBA7(j)]
August 16 – 19, 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM PDT each day
Government Contracting Success Week (GCS Week) is a virtual event that will consist of 4 FREE webinars packed full of government contracting information. Click on links below to register for each webinar:
– Doing Business With the GSA – August 16
– How to Get the Most Out of Your 8(a) Certification – August 17
– How to Identify and Win More Contracts by Using Government Websites – August 18
– Mentor Protégé Program 101 – August 19

[NEW] State Contracting Opportunities & Open House – Zoom Meeting [WA DES]
August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM PT
On the third Thursday of the month, the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) facilitates an interactive conversation with state procurement professionals who can provide information and insight on how to do business with the state. 
Join us for this virtual event where we will discuss a variety of topics, including: Introduction to state contracting; How to find upcoming contracting opportunities; Where to get technical assistance; Where to find additional training; opportunity for questions and answers.

[NEW] Small Business Cybersecurity Four-Part Series Webinar [SBDC]
September 13, September 27, October 11, October 25
Small businesses are under cyber and data-breach attacks more than ever given the current climate. Cyber attacks happen every day, and for a small business they can be very costly and cripple business operations. Having your systems and information compromised is not only a direct threat to your confidential data, it can also ruin your relationships with customers and cause legal vulnerability. It is imperative to learn how to boost your cyber defense systems. This series was developed to help small businesses be cyber safe.

University of Washington Supplier Orientation [UW]
Monthly – see dates below, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
The orientations will provide a learning opportunity to assist in navigating potential business prospects at the University and with other state agencies, as well as educational and other resources to assist businesses. Orientation sessions are virtual and will include representatives from the University and other regional business development agencies.

• August 14, 2022: Registration Link
• September – no session
• October 6, 2022:  Registration Link
• November 3, 2022:  Registration Link
• December 1, 2022:  Registration Link

Turner School of Construction Management

5-week, 9-Course Program @ Seattle Location
Meets every Tuesday and Thursday, September 6 – October 6, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Turner’s School of Construction Management (TSCM) is a 5-week program that expands opportunities for growing businesses. Each course is taught by Turner staff and select industry partners. The program has helped participants enhance business acumen, build networks, and form long-term business relationships. We provide our community with the education and tools to work successfully within the industry by introducing a series of lectures in Procurement, Estimating, Operations, Contracts, Accounting, and other construction areas beneficial to a company’s quality and growth. Participants are issued a certificate of completion at the end of the program. Link to register.

Grow with a Pro [Business Impact NW]
Tuesdays, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM PT
Whether you are in the idea phase or a growth phase in your business, we invite you to attend our weekly Grow with a Pro coffee chats. You will hear from Business Professionals from Umpqua Bank, Tax-u-Sign, and an Attorney from the Rational Unicorn.
Every Tuesday from 9 to 9:45 am Pacific Time, you will get to hear from one of these professionals as they chat about their area of expertise as it relates to current times and we will have an opportunity for a few of your non-confidential questions to get some answers. We’ll even be offering you opportunities to connect with other business owners through these morning coffee chats.

• First Tuesday of Every Month:
  Neura Conejo – Banking Professional – Umpqua Bank
• Second Tuesday of Every Month:
  Lily Tran – Tax Professional – Tax-u-Sign
• Third Tuesday of Every Month:
  Andrew Peoples – Insurance Professional – Parker, Smith & Feek
• Fourth Tuesday of Every Month:
  Michael Jonas – Legal Professional – Rational Unicorn Legal Services PC

Doing Business with the City of Seattle – Online
First Fridays of each month, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM PT
Join City of Seattle for “First Fridays” online to meet Purchasing and Contracting staff who are part of purchasing, consultant contracting and construction/public works teams. Three sessions are offered at at once so choose the one you’re interested in!
Separate online workshops are available same day in Spanish, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Primer Viernes del mes

PTAC & SBDC First Friday Follow-Up
Every first Friday of each month
EASC/PTAC Friday Follow-up is an open forum, round table for businesses to get answers from your local PTAC counselor. Bring your questions regarding government contracting and learn from knowledgeable Small Business Experts. Janet Toth with the Small Business Development Center will be with us to share her knowledge about growing your business.

Organizational Event Calendars

For your convenience, we have compiled a list of agencies offering small business training and development opportunities. Please explore the sites below to see upcoming events:

• William Factory Small Business Incubator Calendar
• Washington State L&I Workshops and Training Center
• Minority Business Development Agency Event Calendar
• Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Of Commerce Event Calendar
• The World Trade Center Tacoma Event Page
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Event Page
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Briefing Workshops
  • Events at Bottom of Page
• The Washington State Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Event Calendar
• Washington Center For Women In Business Event Calendar
• Invista Performance Solutions Courses
• Veterans Business Outreach Center Region X (Business Impact NW) Courses
• Economic Alliance Snohomish County

Organizational Resources

Please explore below to see what resources are offered by the following organizations:

• Washington State Business Hub
• Pierce County Libraries (Job And Business Center) Resources
  • Access with Pierce County Library Card
• Tacoma Library Business Resources
  • Access with Tacoma Library Card
• City Of Tacoma Office Of Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
  • Contact: Carrie Lynn Phone: 253.591.5224 Email: clynn@ci.tacoma.wa.us
• City Of Tacoma Business Marketing Data Services
  • Contact: Carol Wolfe Phone: 253.591.5384 Email: cwolfe@cityoftacoma.org