Colorado SBDC Serving Southern Colorado

06/04/2026

⏰ Tomorrow's the Day! ⏰

Ready to turn your business idea into reality?

Join us tomorrow for our FREE Business Start in a Day workshop and learn the essential steps to launching and growing a successful business.

Led by Brian Estrada, Executive Director of the Colorado SBDC Serving Southern Colorado, this in-person workshop will cover:

✔ Business structures and licensing
✔ Business planning and financing
✔ Marketing fundamentals
✔ Resources available to support your success

Whether you're just exploring an idea or ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship, this class will help you get started with confidence.

📅 Friday, June 5, 2026
⏰ 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
📍 Southern Colorado SBDC Classroom (2nd Floor)
121 W. Main Street, Pueblo, CO 81003

Register today: https://socgov38.my.site.com/ColoradoSBDC/s/event-function?language=en_US&c__recordId=a0HV1000008gU3VMAU

A special thank you to Vectra Bank Colorado, our Class Sponsor, for helping make this educational opportunity available to aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Southern Colorado.

06/03/2026

Curious about ChatGPT but not sure where to start?

Join us for ChatGPT for Business: First Steps & Basic Training. This is a FREE in-person class designed specifically for beginners with little to no experience using ChatGPT or AI tools.

This class is presented in partnership with the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado - Pueblo to help local businesses better understand and confidently use AI tools in their day-to-day operations.

📚 Topics include:
• Introduction to ChatGPT
• Interface walkthrough
• Prompting basics
• Custom instructions
• Business use cases
• Best practices

📅 June 30th, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
📍 121 W City Center Dr, Pueblo, CO 81003 (2nd Floor)
🎟️ FREE to attend!
Register here: https://bit.ly/4fwoK04

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or simply AI-curious, this class will help you feel more confident using AI tools.

06/02/2026

🎄 Calling All Small Business Vendors! 🎄

Save the date for our Holiday Bazaar & Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 1st from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM!

This year is especially exciting as the SBDC Holiday Bazaar will be held in conjunction with the Pueblo Community College Tree Lighting Ceremony, bringing together holiday shoppers, community members, students, faculty, staff, and local businesses for a festive evening of holiday cheer.

This unique partnership creates an even greater opportunity for vendors to connect with customers and showcase their products during the holiday shopping season.

🎁 Vendor Spaces: Just $25 - Thanks to a Sponsorship By Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)
🎄 December 1, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Whether you're an artisan, crafter, retailer, nonprofit, or entrepreneur, we'd love to have you join us!

Register today:
🔗 https://bit.ly/43yOz8z

Let's celebrate the season while supporting local businesses and our community!

05/29/2026

Join us for ChatGPT for Business: First Steps & Basic Training. This is a FREE in-person class designed specifically for beginners with little to no experience using ChatGPT or AI tools.

This class is presented in partnership with the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado - Pueblo to help local businesses better understand and confidently use AI tools in their day-to-day operations.

📚 Topics include:
• Introduction to ChatGPT
• Interface walkthrough
• Prompting basics
• Custom instructions
• Business use cases
• Best practices

📅 June 30th, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
📍 121 W City Center Dr, Pueblo, CO 81003 (2nd Floor)
🎟️ FREE to attend!
Register here: https://bit.ly/4fwoK04

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or simply AI-curious, this class will help you feel more confident using AI tools.

05/28/2026

Need some help with Tech?

Sip tea, get creative, and receive free tech help in a relaxed space! 🍵💻

Bring your device or craft. Snacks provided while supplies last.

📅Tuesdays
🕰️2 p.m.

Sponsored by AARP Colorado.

05/28/2026

Calling all Fremont County entrepreneurs and small business owners! Have business questions? The Colorado SBDC serving Southern Colorado is here to help!

Join the Colorado SBDC serving Southern Colorado for Office Hours with the SBDC on June 23rd from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance in Cañon City!

This is a great opportunity to connect one-on-one with our team and get guidance on:
✅ Starting a business
✅ Marketing strategies
✅ Funding opportunities
✅ Business planning
✅ Growth strategies
✅ And more!

📍 Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance
816 Royal Gorge Blvd.
Cañon City, CO 81212

🗓 By appointment only.
Register today: https://bit.ly/4uBJpVj

After registering, an SBDC team member will contact you to schedule your appointment time.

05/27/2026

🚧 Interested in Working on CDOT Projects? 🚧

Join this online workshop to learn how to navigate CDOT prequalification requirements and Master Pricing Agreements (MPAs) for engineering and infrastructure-related contracts.

📅 June 3
🕘 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
💻 Online
💲 $25

Topics include:
✔ Consultant vs. vendor differences
✔ CDOT prequalification requirements
✔ B2G system navigation
✔ Form 1058 completion
✔ Master Pricing Agreement (MPA) process
✔ Common mistakes and best practices

Whether you are new to government contracting or looking to strengthen your understanding of CDOT processes, this workshop will help position your business for future opportunities.

🎥 Can’t attend live? Register anyway to receive access to the recording.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4tCxTb9

05/26/2026

🚀 Ready to turn your business idea into reality?

Join the Southern Colorado SBDC for our FREE Business Start in a Day workshop on June 12, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Rawlings Library in Pueblo!

This in-person session is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs take their first confident steps into business ownership. Learn about:
✔️ Legal structures
✔️ Licensing requirements
✔️ Business planning
✔️ Financing options
✔️ Marketing strategies

Led by Brian Estrada, Executive Administrator of the Southern Colorado SBDC.

📍 Rawlings Branch - Pueblo Library
100 E. Abriendo Ave, Pueblo, CO 81004

🎟️ FREE to attend, but registration is required!

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3RofcdR

Thank you to our Class Sponsor, Vectra Bank Colorado, for supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses!

05/21/2026

A BIG small business opportunity is coming to Pueblo!
We are excited to partner with Energize Colorado to bring The PEAK Program to Pueblo on June 24-26, 2026. - Check out the video below from when the PEAK Program was hosted in Grand Junction.

This FREE 2.5-day immersive retreat is designed for small business owners who are ready to prepare, elevate, accelerate, and kickstart their growth.

Participants will receive:
✔ Growth strategy support
✔ Capital readiness tools
✔ Mentorship from experienced business owners
✔ Connections to lenders and funding opportunities

One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is finding time to work ON their business while managing the day-to-day demands of working IN it. The PEAK Program is designed to give business owners the time, tools, and support needed to focus on long-term growth and sustainability.

Pueblo continues to serve as an important hub for Southern Colorado entrepreneurship, and we are excited to bring this opportunity to our local business community.

Learn more and apply at: https://energizecolorado-7716430.hs-sites.com/peak2026

Peak is a two-day retreat where small business owners chart a path ...