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08/27/2025 2:03 pm

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Small Business Event Calendar

Events held by local small business partners

Updated: Aug 27, 2025

The City of Raleigh enjoys an ecosystem of support organizations that focus on the success of small business owners. This calendar highlights small business-related events offered by these partners in the City of Raleigh. Event types include:

  • Training & resources
  • Public affairs, annual meetings & expos
  • Grant & funding application dates
  • Vendor or foot traffic opportunities
  • Networking events

  • Oct
    2

    Partner Event: Are You Fundable?

    7 p.m. • Thursday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-02 19:00:00 2025-10-02 20:00:00 Partner Event: Are You Fundable? Hosted by SBTDCSecuring capital is one of the biggest challenges business owners face. Before approaching lenders or investors, it’s important to understand what they look for and how to present your business in the best possible light. This session will provide insights into how funders evaluate businesses, the key factors that influence funding decisions, and the steps you can take to strengthen your financial readiness. Includes a moderated Q&A period. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    3

    Partner Event: NCDOT Falling Into Opportunities

    8:30 a.m. • Friday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-03 08:30:00 2025-10-03 13:30:00 Partner Event: NCDOT Falling Into Opportunities Hosted by the N.C. Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Office of Civil Rights (OCR), this free half-day event is designed to support small businesses in the transportation and construction industries. Attendees will learn about upcoming contracting opportunities, OCR programs and gain practical insights into small business operations. The event features keynote speaker Lene Omoh, CEO of Peridot Consulting Group, LLC, and encourages networking with primes, bidders and resource partners. Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 Time: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM Location: Western Wake Tech Campus – Room 1183434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518 Contact: bowd@ncdot.gov | (984) 236-1234 Free Registration: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3IF2etC5mkSFw-zCbNftGdcjaNj4eaJMmSAul2n5nBFUQTZPQjlHRkU0VjdaOFozQ1NERFZJUVVPMy4u&route=shorturl City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    4

    Partner Event: Tech Saturday for Small Business

    9 a.m. • Saturday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-04 09:00:00 2025-10-04 12:30:00 Partner Event: Tech Saturday for Small Business Hosted by Wake TechPlease bring your laptop & join us for hands-on learning in AI, Canva, and Video Creation designed for small businesses. Discover practical tools, creative strategies, and content hacks to boost your brand visibility, streamline workflows, and connect with your audience like a pro! Agenda:8:30 AM Register & Network9:00 AM AI For Business10:15 AM Canva for Business11:30 AM Shortform Video Creation12:30 PM Wrap-Up City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    6

    Partner Event: Stand Out: Create a Compelling Value Proposition

    6 p.m. • Monday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-06 18:00:00 2025-10-06 20:30:00 Partner Event: Stand Out: Create a Compelling Value Proposition Hosted by NC Veterans Business Outreach Center  Differentiate your business by clearly communicating what makes you unique. Learn how to define your unique value proposition—the promise that explains why customers should choose you. By the end, you’ll be able to craft a clear, compelling statement that highlights the benefits only your business can deliver. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Sarah Espinosa at 910-672-2683 or sespinos@uncfsu.edu. Instructions:  Registration is required. This class will not be recorded. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    7

    Partner Event: GrowthWheel Tools Operations: IT Systems

    10 a.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-07 10:00:00 2025-10-07 11:00:00 Partner Event: GrowthWheel Tools Operations: IT Systems Hosted by SBAThis class is designed to empower small business owners at any stage of the business life cycle with the skills and tools to enhance their strategies. Through this comprehensive program, entrepreneurs will learn to apply decision sheets, articles, and frameworks from the GrowthWheel platform to elevate their business operations and decision-making skills. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    7

    Partner Event: SBA Lending Programs Webinar

    11 a.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-07 11:00:00 2025-10-07 12:30:00 Partner Event: SBA Lending Programs Webinar Hosted by NC Veterans Business Outreach Center  This presentation will provide a general overview of the Small Business Administration’s programs that assist small businesses in obtaining access to capital on terms that may not otherwise be considered reasonable. Whether you're a new or existing business owner, this webinar provides valuable insights and resources to help you navigate the SBA lending landscape successfully. Join us to determine whether or not SBA lending is a good fit for your business! Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Sarah Espinosa at 910-672-2683 or sespinos@uncfsu.edu. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    7

    Partner Event: Crafting an Effective Capability Statement

    11:30 a.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-07 11:30:00 2025-10-07 13:00:00 Partner Event: Crafting an Effective Capability Statement Hosted by SBTDCNorth Carolina SBTDC’s Government Contracting Assistance Program presents GovCon Connect Series on contracting fundamentals. Create a compelling capability statement that showcases your business to government buyers. Learn essential components, formatting best practices, and how to align your capabilities with government needs. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    7

    Partner Event: Pricing For Profit

    6 p.m. • Tuesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-07 18:00:00 2025-10-07 20:00:00 Partner Event: Pricing For Profit Hosted by Triangle ArtWorksAre you interested in learning more about how to price your artwork? Are you selling your work but unsure why you are not earning what you expect? Join Tiffany Coley and Cynthia Deis for this virtual workshop where you’ll learn how to abandon the idea of the starving artist and make a profit with your artwork. This class will cover the details of a profit-driven pricing strategy for artists. You’ll discuss pricing for your artwork or art services, wholesale vs. retail pricing, how to identify productive hours and how to approach pricing to achieve a desired income level from your work. The class will work through pricing using a business case study and the details of pricing You will leave with a method to price your work, including a downloadable file that can be used when pricing your own work. Class space is limited. EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24, $33GENERAL PRICING THROUGH OCTOBER 6 $43DAY OF WORKSHOP PRICING $48About the Instructors:Tiffany Coley Tiffany Coley is a jeweler and silversmith with a background in tech and business. She most recently joined Triangle Artworks as a Program Assistant and serves as a Liberty Arts board member. She works out of her studio in Durham, NC and sells her work both retail and wholesale. Learn more about Tiffany Coley's work here. Cynthia Deis Cynthia Deis, Triangle ArtWorks ArtSwell Education Director, is an artist and art educator with over 25 years of experience in designing and selling crafts and in running a retail crafts store and craft-focused pop-up markets around the Triangle. Learn more about Cynthia's work here. This virtual class meets on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 from 6-8pm. The class meets on Zoom and you will receive login information after registration. You will receive class handouts via email in the week before class, please print the handouts out and be prepared to work on them during the class. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    8

    Partner Event: Small Business Certifications

    10 a.m. • Wednesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-08 10:00:00 2025-10-08 11:30:00 Partner Event: Small Business Certifications Hosted by Wake TechThe U.S. Federal Government is the world’s largest customer - and small businesses are a critical part of its supply chain. But breaking into federal contracting can feel overwhelming without a roadmap. The Government Contracting Foundations Series is designed for small businesses that are curious about federal work but don’t know where to start. With these monthly webinars, you’ll learn the basics step by step: how the government buys, how to register, what certifications mean, how to define your company’s capabilities, and what infrastructure you need in place to compete. Whether you’re a one-person shop or a growing business, this series gives you practical, no-nonsense guidance to help you decide if federal contracting is right for you and how to get started the right way. Note: These sessions are focused on federal contracting - how to do business with U.S. federal agencies. While some concepts may apply broadly, this series is not designed for companies pursuing state or local government contracts. Wed, Sep 10, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 1: Introduction to Federal Contracting Wed, Oct 8, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 2: Small Business Certifications Wed, Nov 12, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 3: Past Performance and Corporate Experience Wed, Dec 10, 2025 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 4: Market Demand: Who Buys What You Sell Wed, Jan 14, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 5: Capability Statements Wed, Feb 11, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 6: The Federal Sales Cycle Wed, Mar 11, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 7: Foundational Infrastructure for GovCon Wed, Apr 8, 2026 10:00 to 11:30 AM ET Foundations Session 8: Human Factors in GovCon Session 2 – Small Business Certifications Learn how certifications help your federal business journey. From 8(a) to WOSB, HUBZone, and SDVOSB, we’ll cover what these certifications mean, who qualifies, and why they matter. We’ll also clear up common myths and give you practical guidance on whether and when to pursue certification. Reena Bhatia of the NC Military Business Center at Wake Tech will provide a basic overview of essential topics. This webinar will be presented via Microsoft Teams platform. If you've never used Teams it will ask you to download onto your computer. We ask that you go ahead and complete this step, utilizing the same First Name, Last Name and Email address used during registration. Once you do this it will allow you access to the webinar. We recommend that you sign in to the webinar at least five minutes prior to the start of the session to ensure you don't have any technical issues. City of Raleigh America/New_York public
  • Oct
    8

    Partner Event: Starting Your Small Business in North Carolina Webinar

    6 p.m. • Wednesday
    Add to Calendar 2025-10-08 18:00:00 2025-10-08 20:00:00 Partner Event: Starting Your Small Business in North Carolina Webinar Hosted by NC Veterans Business Outreach Center  Navigating the requirements for starting a business in North Carolina can be confusing and sometimes the information friends and websites offer isn’t completely accurate. We’ll discuss the state, local, and federal requirements for doing business in our state and where to find resources our state offers to help you succeed. I have an EIN, what now? What’s the difference between a DBA, Sole Proprietorship, LLC, Corporation, and an S-Corp? How much will this cost? How long does it take? Where do I go to register? How do I get a license? Can I do this from home? Do I need a State Tax Number? Speaker: Sharon Walker is a Sr. Small Business Advisor with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. She is a business consultant with experience in customer service, technical support, and project management. Prior to coming to EDPNC, she has worked with government agencies, NC Department of Health & Human Services and NC Department of Revenue, and with large corporations, Kodak and WorldCom. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Sarah Espinosa at 910-672-2683 or sespinos@uncfsu.edu. City of Raleigh America/New_York public

Contact

 

Jocelyn Sanchez
Small Business and Workforce Development Analyst
jocelyn.sanchez@raleighnc.gov
984-220-2958

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Lead Department:
Economic and Social Advancement
Service Categories:
Small Business Development