Rhode Island SBDC Upcoming Events

Startup Foundations: How To Start A Business, Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:48:51 GMT

Where: Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, Innovate Newport, Newport, RI
When: Tuesday, June 09, 2026 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Topic: Start-up Assistance

Startup Foundations In Person Workshop

Startup Foundations is a monthly introductory webinar designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are seriously considering starting a business, but want a realistic picture of what that actually involves.

This session goes beyond the idea stage to break down the core components of launching a business, including time commitment, legal and financial considerations, market validation, and the mindset required to move from concept to execution. It's intentionally structured to help participants assess whether entrepreneurship is the right path for them right now.

Startup Foundations is ideal for individuals who:

Have a business idea but aren't sure where to start
Are exploring entrepreneurship and want a clear, honest overview
Want to avoid common early mistakes before investing time or money

By the end of the session, attendees will walk away with a stronger understanding of what it truly takes to start a business, clarity on their next steps, and insight into available resources and support.

Sessions are offered monthly, both in person and online, making it easy to attend from anywhere.

Speaker: Paul Harden, RI SBDC Regional Director
Co-Sponsor:

Fee: No Cost
Link

Summer of Soccer Series: Staff Training, RI Hospitality Association, Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:49:02 GMT

Where: Virtual
When: Tuesday, June 09, 2026 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Topic: Managing a Business

The Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA) will join forces with the RISBDC during this session to provide details on training and assistance they can provide to small businesses on de-escalation techniques, cultural awareness, and inventory readiness.

The session is a continuation of the "Summer of Soccer" series of training webinars developed by the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RISBDC), in collaboration with regional partners and local businesses. The RISBDC launched the virtual Summer of Soccer Business Readiness Series to help Rhode Island businesses prepare for and capitalize on the opportunities surrounding the World Cup and matches taking place in Foxborough, MA.

The series provides timely, practical updates and insights on topics such as banking, branding & merchandise strategy, digital marketing, staffing, operations and global visitor engagement. It was designed to equip businesses of all sizes with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to position themselves for success during this historic moment for our region.

Speaker: RI Hospitality Association Chelsea Brehm, RI SBDC Business Counselor
Co-Sponsor:

Fee: No Cost
Link

Is It Worth It? Evaluating "Opportunities", Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:52:12 GMT

Where: Online
When: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Topic: Cash Flow Management

Running a business isn't just about dollars and cents. It's about how you manage all of your resources - and that has a financial impact! It's important to understand the true cost of spending those resources and the ROI (Return on Investment) you're getting. This 3-month workshop series is designed to help you calculate the real value of your resources and maximize that investment while building basic business financial literacy skills.

As business owners, we can be inundated with offers to vend, partner, place products, and expand our business, but how do you know if those offers are actually right for you? Now that you know your margins, we're going to use that leveled-up business mindset to objectively look at "opportunities" such as markets, wholesale, new product lines, etc. to see if they are really worth the investment.

During this workshop, you will learn to:

Determine your goals for engaging in offers
Calculate the cost to your Resource Budget
Evaluate the potential ROI of an offered opportunity
Get creative about making your own opportunities

Rayna McClane, Rebellious Resources CEO
Speaker:
Co-Sponsor:

Fee: No Cost
Link

Relationship Marketing 101, Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Thu, 21 May 2026 13:26:49 GMT

Where: Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce, Innovate Newport, Newport, RI
When: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Topic: Customer Relations

Relationship First! ApproachT:

Relationship Marketing 101 for Business Owners

This session explores how business owners can build a strong, authentic brand that creates visibility, trust, and meaningful business relationships. Attendees will learn the fundamentals of professional branding, including how to clearly communicate about what they do on their website, social media, and in-person interactions. The session will also cover an overview of low-cost/no cost marketing tools such as LinkedIn, content creation strategies, email marketing platforms, and relationship marketing systems that help turn connections into long-term opportunities. Participants will leave with actionable ideas, simple systems they can implement immediately, and a better understanding of how consistency, engagement, and generosity can strengthen both their brand and their network.

Dennise M. Kowalczyk is The Marketing Broad who specializes in relationship marketing strategies. She has developed the Relationship First! ApproachT to help other business owners get more clients by creating client-centered marketing strategies to grow their businesses.

As a former radio DJ, a world traveler, rambunctious storyteller, professional actor, and CEO of BroadBrand Enterprises, she is a huge fan of bringing people together to do good things in the world. The one crucial thing she has learned early on was that building relationships was THE way to consistent business growth and success.

Speaker: Dennise Kowalczyk
Co-Sponsor:

Fee: No Cost
Link

Marketing Mastery: Customer Retention Strategies, Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Tue, 26 May 2026 17:21:53 GMT

Where: Innovate Newport, Innovate Newport, Newport
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Topic: Marketing and Sales

A crucial aspect of strategic planning is developing effective customer retention strategies. By focusing on retaining existing customers, businesses can increase their customer loyalty, boost profitability, and create a strong foundation for long-term success.

See you in person at this event located in Newport!

US Small Business Administration - RI Chapter (SBA) or a representative from the RI Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Speaker: Amanda Basse, SBA Marketing Outreach Specialist
Co-Sponsor: SBA, Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

Fee: No Cost
Link