As the new year kicks off and another COVID-19 stimulus package has been passed, Â鶹ӳ» Extension will offer free online town halls and webinars next week and the following week to provide small-businesses owners with details on the stimulus package, as well as guidance on marketing and taxes. Discussion on the new stimulus package will include improvements to the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, as well as emergency enhancements being made to related lending programs.
“With COVID-19 still surging, accessing the new relief funds and knowing the changes and improvements made to existing assistance programs are essential for the survival of our small businesses,” said Buddy Borden, economic development specialist with Extension’s Business Development Program. “But, with the vaccines rolling out, we also want our small businesses to keep looking ahead and to make sure they are on top of their marketing and taxes, two pillars of business that will help their businesses prosper long after we get through COVID.”
The town halls begin with a presentation on a given topic or topics, and then participants network with one another and drive the discussion. The webinars provide more detailed information on specific topics to help entrepreneurs and businesses plan strategically, adapt and succeed. All sessions are free and run about an hour.
Next week’s town hall and webinar will focus on the new stimulus package and taxes, and will be for English speakers. The following week’s sessions will focus on the new stimulus package and marketing, and will be for Spanish speakers. Later in the month, there will be sessions on taxes for Spanish speakers and sessions on marketing for English speakers. Details on sessions for the next two weeks are as follows.
The Jan. 6 and Jan. 8 sessions are for English speakers:
- The town hall, “Nuts and Bolts of the New Stimulus Package and Getting Organized for Tax Season,” is Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 9 a.m. Panelists include:
- From the Small Business Administration – Saul Ramos, deputy director
- From Extension – Reyna Mendez and Juan Salas, business development instructors; and Mike Bindrup, research associate
- The webinar, “Taxes and My Business,” is Friday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. Salas will discuss:
- Tax formulas and the importance of estimation
- The three main taxes related to business income and profits
- Taxes related to employees at the federal and state level
- Identifying compliance dates and documentation
The Jan. 13 and Jan. 15 sessions are for Spanish speakers:
- The town hall, “Nuts and Bolts of the New Stimulus Package and Marketing in 2021” is Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m. Panelists include:
- From the Small Business Administration – Alfredo Cedeño, outreach/marketing specialist
- From Extension – Mendez, Salas and Bindrup
- The webinar, “Digital Marketing: Basic Concepts,” will be held Friday, Jan. 15, at 9 a.m. for Spanish speakers is Friday, Jan. 8, at 9 a.m. Mendez will discuss:
- The importance of digital marketing in business
- The three principals of social media: traffic, conversion and retention
- Identifying good and bad social media campaigns
- Creating a weekly play for social media
To register:
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Extension has been offering a series of online town halls and webinars for small businesses, “Coping With COVID-19,” since April 2020. For more information, go to the . There are also other resources at the website to assist businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information, email Borden.
