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Build your small business with the help of industry experts and market research data, free with your library card.
About
About Grow Academy
Learn more about our program
Calendar
Class Calendar
Grow Academy classes and additional learning opportunities available
Additional Information
Tools & Resources
Information small businesses need to know
Apply
Application
Applications for our 2023/24 cohort

Grow Academy

Build your small business with the help of industry experts and market research data.  Free with your library card.

 

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About Grow Academy

What is Grow Academy?

Grow Academy is a 10 month program for those hoping to start or strengthen a small business. Classes will cover everything you need to know to build a business plan. Each class will be split between advice from industry experts and instruction on how to utilize free library resources to gather vital data needed for a business plan and market research.

What is the time commitment?

Classes occur one Saturday each month with a break in December for the holidays. Each class will be two hours from 10 am-noon. 

How much will it cost?

This program is being offered at no-cost to Tulsa City-County Library card holders.

How can I get in?

Grow Academy classes are open at limited registration. Reserve your seat here: https://events.tulsalibrary.org/events.

How many people will be accepted into the program?

We currently have space to accept 15 people each class. 

Who will be the Industry Experts?

Experts include but are not limited to representatives from Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Northeastern State University, , and Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, 36 Degrees North, SCORE, Tulsa Tech, OU-The Mine and REI Women's Business Center. Students will have access to Tulsa City-County Library’s Business Knowledge Specialists.

 

What will the classes cover?

Classes will cover the following topics:

  1. Dreams on Paper: Mapping Your Journey- Business Plans/ Finding Funding
  2. Guides of the Entrepreneurial Expedition- Mentorships and Networking
  3. Set your Sites- Online stores vs. Retail Spaces
  4. The Super Market- Market Research
  5. So On Brand- Marketing and Branding
  6. You’re Worth It- Sales and Pricing 
  7. World’s Best Boss- Staff
  8. Tending Your Garden: Weeding Out Distractions- Productivity and Prioritization
  9. Putting Pen to Paper- Forms and Permits
  10. Money matters- Taxes/Money Management

Can I go to just one class?

Yes! If you see a class your business can benefit from, please join us. Those attending one class will not be part of the cohort discussion sessions or receive a certificate of completion. Registration is limited and will be available at tulsalibrary.org/events

Class Calendar

Business Class Calendar

The image features the calendar for the Grow Academy 2023-2024 cohort. The dates are also listed below in text form.

Discussion Topics

Dreams on Paper
Business Plans/ Finding Funding
October 28, 2023

Guides on the Entrepreneurial Expedition
Networking and Mentors
November 18, 2023

Super Market
Market Research
January 20, 2024

So on Brand
Branding
February 24, 2024

Set Your Sites
Retail Space vs. Online Stores
March 23, 2024

You’re Worth It
Sales and Pricing
April 27, 2024

World’s Best Boss
Staff
May 25, 2024

Tending Your Garden: Weeding Out Distractions
Productivity and Prioritization
June 22, 2024

Putting Pen to Paper
Forms and Permits
July 27, 2024

Money Matters
Finances and Business
August 24, 2024

Additional Business Classes

November 13, 2023 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm - LinkedIn 101 for Entrepreneurs with Clarene Mitchell from TCM Communications
December 11, 2023 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm - Intellectual Property 101: An Overview of Patents, Trademarks, and More with Kate Sullivan from Black Dog Law
January 8, 2024 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm - Canva 101 for Entrepreneurs
February 12, 2024 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm - Catering and Events Startups:  What you need to know! Part One
March 11, 2024 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm - Catering and Events Startups:  What you need to know! Part Two
April 8, 2024 - from 5:30pm-6:30pm - PowerPoint 101 for Entrepreneurs
May 13, 2024 - from 6:00pm-7:00pm - Pitch Presentations 101
June 15, 2024 - from 10am-11:30am - Page Masters: A Family Book Club
July 12, 2024 - fr4om 6pm-8pm at NEFF Brewing - Brewing Adventure: A History of the Oklahoma Beer Industry - "Oklahoma Beer: A Handcrafted History" Meet-Up

Tools and Resources

Grow Academy students will receive instruction on library tools:

D&B Hoover
Data Axle
Demographics Now
First Research
Gale Small Business Builder
Legal Forms
Mergent Intellect
Plunkett Research

A curated list of classes is available with your library card:

LinkedIn Learning
Universal Class

Business Book List

https://tccl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/170730561_rcdisplay/2134629669_grow_academy

State and Local Business Resources

Oklahoma Department of Commerce
https://www.okcommerce.gov/

Oklahoma Tax Commission
https://oklahoma.gov/tax.html

Oklahoma Secretary of State

https://www.sos.ok.gov/business/infoSB.aspx 

Build in Tulsa

https://www.buildintulsa.com/

36 Degrees North

https://www.36n.co/ 

PartnerTulsa

https://partnertulsa.org/  

 

 

​​​​​​​Federal Resources

Small Business Administration
https://www.sba.gov/

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
https://www.eeoc.gov/

US Department of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/

EIN number
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

IRS Starting a Small Business
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/starting-a-business

Better Business Bureau 
https://www.bbb.org/

General Services Administration
https://www.gsa.gov/small-business

Small Business Programs from the US Department of Treasury
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/small-business-programs

Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization- US Department of Treasury
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/small-business-programs/small-and-disadvantaged-business-utilization-0

 

US Government 

https://www.usa.gov/state-business/oklahoma

Instructors

Instructors will be joining us from the following organizations:

Northeastern State University
https://www.nsuok.edu/brokenarrow.aspx

Oklahoma Small Business Development Corporation
https://www.oksbdc.org/

Northrop Grumman
https://www.northropgrumman.com/

Tulsa Economic Development Corporation
https://tedcnet.com/

SBA
https://www.sba.gov/district/oklahoma

36 Degrees North 

https://www.36n.co/

SCORE 

https://tulsa.score.org/

REI Women's Business Center

https://reiwbc.org/

Tulsa Tech 

https://tulsatech.edu/workforce-training-and-development/

Oklahoma University- The Mine

https://www.ou.edu/iccew/for-community-members/entrepreneurial-resources 

OSU Patent and Trademark Resource Center

https://info.library.okstate.edu/patent-and-trademark-resource-center

The Branning Group

https://branninggroup.com/

Fulton Street Books and Coffee

https://www.fultonstreet918.com/

Canyon Trail 

https://canyon-trail.com/

 

Application

Applications for the 2023-24 cohort are now closed. Check back next year for applications to the 2024-25 cohort.