TULSA, Okla. — A program is helping teach local entrepreneurs about the business world.
It's called Grow Academy and is offered through the Tulsa City-County Library System.
For those looking to start or improve their small business operations, Grow Academy may be something to consider.
One entrepreneur 2 News spoke to is an early childhood educator. She wants to start a business coaching teachers and child care staff on social and emotional learning.
“I was just searching YouTube and Google. [searching] How do I start a business? “What do I need to start a business? What does the LLC process look like? You know, like a lot of questions,” said Bibiana Gallegos.
“My degree was not useful for business,” she added. “I had no idea where to start, so when I discovered Grow Academy, it was perfect.”
Halfway through the 10-month program, Gallegos said Grow Academy is already helping her build her know-how.
She said the program doesn't just teach entrepreneurs about running a business. One of the advantages of the in-person program over online tutorials is networking.
“I went in to gain knowledge. I wanted to learn more about how to run a business,” Gallegos explained. “But I think one of the biggest benefits of joining Grow Academy is connecting with other business owners here in Tulsa. It only connects you to the connections you make.”
The program runs for 10 months and offers a variety of classes to the cohort.
Grow Academy says each class is divided into tips from industry experts and teaching students how to leverage free library resources to gather data for business planning and market research.
Classes are held every Saturday from 10am to 12pm at the Central Library.
The current cohort started in October and is scheduled to end in August.
Grow Academy is free to TCCL cardholders.
However, spots are limited. If you are interested in signing up, click here to learn more about the program.
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