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Empowering Local Entrepreneurs: Streamlining Small Business Support for Business Retention

Tuesday, October 22, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

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Event Details

Supporting the small business community and local entrepreneurs is a critical part of a comprehensive economic development strategy. Existing businesses are already integrated into the community and provide stable jobs. Retaining them helps preserve employment and contributes to the local economy. While supporting local retail entrepreneurs is crucial for community growth, it can be challenging to dedicate the necessary resources.

This webinar explores how an on-demand Small Business Support program can provide equitable access to essential resources for local entrepreneurs without overburdening economic development organizations. Learn how to empower local businesses to thrive while maintaining focus on other critical projects, ensuring balanced and effective economic development.
About this webinar:
Retail Strategies hears from clients across the country that empowering their local small business owners to progress and growth their businesses is a needed function of economic development. This webinar will highlight what technical support and training looks like for small businesses and funding sources available to cities and EDO’s to provide this programs.
Speaker:
Jenn Gregory, President, Downtown Strategies

Jenn was named a “Top 50 under 40” professional by Mississippi Business Journal in 2016. She serves as President of Parents for Public Schools Starkville and is the Executive Director/Vice President of Operations for Bully Bloc, a non-partisan political action committee supporting Mississippi State University alumni in political positions within Mississippi. She is a board member of the non-profit group Mississippi 30 Day Fund, an organization focusing on the private sector supporting small businesses the state and is a Governmental Relations Chair for ICSC. Jenn was recently selected for ICSC’s Next Generation Leadership Network, a two-year fellowship program for professionals under 40 in the real estate and community development industry.

Jenn is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and was honored with the inaugural Spirit of State leadership award. She currently serves on the Marketing Advisory Board for the College of Business at Mississippi State University.