Before the Small Business Resource Collaborative was formed at Kenton County Public Library, John Schlipp (KCPL's Small Business and Career Navigator Librarian) had one goal in mind – to create something valuable for small business owners and entrepreneurs by doing providing something different.
"We were trying to come up with something that was beyond a networking group," Schlipp recalls. "Why don't we add value to that by sharing library resources and having subject matter experts come in to talk about certain topics?"
That's how the Small Business Resource Collaborative found its footing. In January of this year, the free monthly support group held its first meeting. Since then, it has continued to evolve and seek out the best ways to empower all those who attend. The group meets the second Thursday of every month from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. at the Covington Branch.
Topics that have been covered in meetings so far include: intellectual property awareness, elevator pitches, fractional consulting services, digital time management tools, copyright/music licensing and more. With each topic covered, attendees learn more about all of the unique elements required to maintain a successful small business.
Looking ahead, you can expect to learn about the following at the remaining meetings for the year in September, October and November (before taking a holiday break in December and starting up again in January 2027):
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- Physical and Emotional Wellness – September 10
- Financial Wellness/Budgeting – October 9
- Recognizing Regional Benevolent Organizations – November 12
Each meeting kicks off with a quick intro from attendees before moving into learning from the featured subject matter expert(s) and wrapping up with time for networking. Whether your small business is already up and running or you're a first-time entrepreneur trying to bring a new idea to life, the Small Business Resource Collaborative can support you along the way.
In addition to attending the monthly support group meeting, the following upcoming professional development opportunities offered by KCPL are also great resources for current and aspiring business owners:
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- Innovate Smart: Intellectual Property for Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Inventors, opens a new window – September 12, October 29 | Online – Learn the essentials of intellectual property (patents, trademarks and copyright).
- Build Smart: Research Tools for Small Business Success, opens a new window – September 26, October 24 | Online – Learn how KCPL's business research databases, combined with free federal and state resources, can help you find customers, analyze markets and evaluate competitors.
- Use Data Axle to Build a Target Company List, opens a new window – September 26, October 22 | Online – Discover how the library's #1 business database can help you build a list of prospects for your job search or business research.
- One-on-One Intellectual Property Audit, opens a new window – October 6, November 3, December 1 at Covington Branch – Book a 45-minute appointment Small Business and Career Navigator Librarian, John Schlipp, to discuss your intellectual property.
- SEO Strategies for Small Business Growth, opens a new window – October 6 |Online – Explore digital grown strategies through a modern SEO lens.
If you have any questions about the events above or joining the Small Business Resource Collaborative, please reach out to John Schlipp at john.schlipp@kentonlibrary.org, opens a new window.
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