Helping Small Business Thrive in the Digital World

Free webinars help small and micro-businesses navigate new and existing technology challenges  

A free new online training program from the Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Center gives small and micro-business owners the knowledge and expertise needed to run their businesses in today’s tech-savvy world.  

The Business Boost Program supports the revitalization of the area’s small and micro-business community, who were hard hit by the pandemic and who lack the tools, resources and expertise to shift primary business functions to a virtual context.  

A/D Works! partnered with the Community College of Aurora (CCA) and the Aurora-South Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to develop the training series to bolster the operations and scalability of small/micro-businesses so they can thrive in a digital world. This program was funded by Arapahoe County and the City of Aurora. 

“We have over 23,500 small businesses in Arapahoe County and are dedicated to supporting their success,” said Sasha Easton, Workforce Director with A/D Works! Workforce Center. “With the help of our partners, we have created free educational workshops accessible through our website.”  

“CCA is committed to this newly formed partnership with Arapahoe/Douglas Works, Workforce Center. Through our association, thousands of entrepreneurs will have the necessary tools to boost the state’s economic and labor force and thrive in the 21^st  century digital age said Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee (President of the Community College of Aurora). 

“This program was developed from requests by small and micro-business owners who wanted specific topics to further their business skills and grow their businesses.  This strategic partnership with the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, A/D Works! and the Community College of Aurora has been a productive one and will continue as we all direct resources and programs to these important businesses in our community,” said Marcia McGilley, executive director, Aurora-South Metro SBDC. 

Workshops are available in English and Spanish and focus on the following eight areas that support small businesses: Establishing a Professional Virtual Presence, Digital Business Fundamentals, Online Hiring Tools, Cyber Security Fundamentals, Excel Basics, Credit, Budgeting and Financial Documents, Your Cellphone as a Business Tool, and Quickbooks and Fiscal Software. 

Highlights include:  

• The Digital Business Fundamentals workshop shows business owners how to use and manage internet browsers, navigate and set up email addresses, create PDF’s and use e-signatures.  
• Excel Basics highlights the capabilities of Excel and teaches owners the basics of formula writing. 
• The Quickbooks and fiscal software workshop helps show owners how to automate many accounting and paperwork tasks.  

View the Webinars