Business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members across Western Nebraska are invited to Trusted Business Connections (TBC), a free, monthly networking event where businesses tell their stories and resource providers share their tools and services.
TBC is held on the third Thursday of every month, with the next one on September 17 from 4-5 PM at Platte Valley Bank Operations Center Café, 1213 E. 20th Street in Scottsbluff.
“Our first TBC meetup had a good turnout, and we hope to keep growing each month,” says Anthony Gurrola, interim executive director at Trusted Community Development and organizer of the event. “Our goal is to build camaraderie within the business community, inspire people to open businesses, and offer support to help founders overcome challenges.”
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You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to attend this event. Anyone who wants to learn about the business community and network in Western Nebraska is welcome. TBC will change locations each month depending on which business is in the spotlight.
Businesses decide how to tell their stories
One business is selected for the spotlight each month, and the owner (or spokesperson) is given 15 to 20 minutes to introduce their organization and share a story about a challenge or problem it overcame.
For example, owners of The Mixing Bowl in Gering shared lessons they learned when they moved locations. The owners gave attendees a tour of their business, showing off their new range hood they had installed and discussing funding and installation hurdles they overcame.
In August, the team from QuickCare Medical Services was in the spotlight. The second-generation owners took over when their father passed away, and they will discuss what they learned about succession planning and business acquisition. This month, Platte Valley Bank will be presenting.
“The businesses get to decide what they discuss and how they showcase their companies to attendees,” says Gurrola. “We want attendees to hear different perspectives on how businesses approach problems and develop solutions.”
Resource providers will showcase their services
After the business spotlight, a featured resource provider will discuss their organization and share how they help businesses. Previously, Alex Coon with the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) discussed his free resources for companies. If more business owners are aware that these grants, tools, and consulting services are available, they can use them to build stronger, more stable operations. This month’s featured resource is the USDA.
The topics discussed by resource providers will also vary. One organization might highlight its financial projection and business planning tools, while another might showcase its community development grants.
TCD invites local resource providers to each meetup. For example, Leadership Scottsbluff and NEXT Young Professionals attended this past event even though the organizations weren’t presenting. These providers can also network with one another to refer entrepreneurs to tools and experts when they need help.
The Panhandle Area Development District (PADD) will be the featured resource provider in August with David Welanko representing the organization.
There’s ample time for networking
The remaining thirty minutes of TBC are dedicated to networking. Attendees can talk to the presenters directly or chat with each other. These events are designed to be held in social spaces where people feel comfortable mingling and introducing themselves.
“The main goal of this event is to foster connections and build our entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Gurrola. “We want to foster peer-to-peer learning across all aspects of running a company, from starting out for the first time to expanding or pivoting business models.”
Gurrola specifically welcomes people who are considering starting a business but haven’t made the jump into entrepreneurship yet. The connections at TBC and the resources discussed could give potential founders the courage and knowledge to go for it – with a support system cheering them on.
Register for the next TBC meet up
While the TBC events are free, advanced registration is recommended. This gives TCD an idea of how many people to plan for, so there’s enough space. You can find the next one on the TCD Facebook Page. Businesses who are interested in presenting can contact Gurrola at agurrola@tcdne.org. Receiving a spotlight feature is one of many benefits of becoming a TCD member, and Gurrola can go over the membership options and perks of supporting economic development in the community.
If you have any questions about Trusted Business Connections, don’t hesitate to reach out. Everyone is welcome at these events as the Western Nebraska entrepreneurial ecosystem grows stronger and more supportive.
