Small Business Workshop Scheduled for March 21
Energizing, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems is planning a business workshop on March 21 that will offer discussions on topics including using artificial intelligence, the state department of labor and how E3 can help an entrepreneur.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY -- E3 is offering workshops to help entrepreneurs and business owners designed to improve skills needed for success.
E3 Navigator Alisha Juelfs said the workshops are designed to help business owners be aware of available programs.
"In order for our small businesses to be aware of local and statewide resources, we are going to start running quarterly workshops in conjunction with WNCC Sidney Campus. What that means is bringing resources into the building that have different programs available that could get some more awareness in the communities," said E3 Navigator Alisha Juelfs.
The first workshop is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the WNCC Sidney campus, Rooms 115/116. She said the workshops will offer a variety of topics that entrepreneurs and business owners may encounter. The workshops are designed as a "come and go." A business owner can stay for all of the workshop or for what he or she is concerned with at the time.
"Some of it is basic functions that businesses use every day. Some of it is more strategy-based. Some of it is needing some bigger funding for projects that they're doing," she said.
The March 21 free workshop includes sessions entitled "Using AI to Streamline Workflow," "Build Your Workforce with NDOL Programs," "E3 Connects Businesses to Resources," and USDA Grants for Energy Systems and Ag Producers."
Cory Keen will be talking about his new venture into Artificial Intelligence. The program allows a business owner to use artificial intelligence to support a business.
"I'll be talking about using AI. Myself and my team have built a ... call it 30-plus AI roles, so it's like hiring an entire team by signing up. Basically, what it is its business-specific bots for marketing. So, you would log in, you might have a marketing manager. You might talk to one of your positions on ... it could be anything. There's 30 different roles in this thing," Keen said.
Keen's program fills in the gap between staff and needed skillsets.
"So, for this quarter, we are going to have representatives from Nebraska Department of Labor talking about some work-based training and occupational skills training; so just helping businesses grow and develop their workforce. This is a program that kind of made its mark in Sidney when NexGen (Outfitters) went through the process of building, and they utilized these programs. Their story is even highlighted on their website. That's a very real example of something that's happened in Cheyenne County," she said.
She also said the USDA has grants available focused on historical buildings. She added part of the motivation for the workshops is to bring awareness of existing programs.
For more information on the programs, see the links below:
Official Nebraska Department of Labor
Business Programs | Rural Development (usda.gov)