Local entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners have a new home for growth and connection. BYOB: Build Your Own Business, a quarterly event series designed to support the Greene County small business community, officially kicks off its inaugural session on Monday, March 2.
BYOB offers a collaborative environment to learn, connect, and thrive, for persons in the “napkin sketch” phase of a startup or those looking to scale an established company. The events are free and open to the public.
The first session will be “Intro to Resources,” focusing on navigating the ecosystem of local support. Attendees will hear directly from key organizations about the tools, funding programs, and consulting services available right here in our community.
The session will be Monday, March 2, from 5:30 to 7 pm at The Courtyard, 214 E. State St, in Jefferson. There is no cost to attend, but reservations will be appreciated.
The event combines casual networking with a high-impact panel discussion: 5:30, check-in, networking, pizza, and cash bar; 5:45, welcome by Nikki Uebel (RE/MAX), followed by a panel discussion; and 7- event wrap-up.
The “Intro to Resources” session features 10-minute deep dives and Q&A sessions with Greg Piklapp of Greene County Development Corporation, Scott Peterson and Chad Stevens of the city of Jefferson, Matt Wetrich of Jefferson Matters, and Kirsten Case Fuller of the Small Business Development Center.
“BYOB is about more than just information; it’s about building a foundation of support for our local economy,” says the event partnership group. “We want every entrepreneur to know they don’t have to build their dream alone.”
This initiative is a collaborative effort between Jefferson Matters, Greene County Development Corporation, the City of Jefferson, Small Business Development Center, Iowa Central Community College, Greene County Extension, and HUB 712. While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are appreciated for catering purposes. Interested attendees can RSVP at https://form.jotform.com/260194624060047.
