Capital Region Small Business Week Returns in May with Innovated Virtual Setting

April 22, 2021 | Capital Region Small Business Week, the annual event that brings together small business experts from across the Sacramento region, will return in May with two days of webinars and online panels. Sponsored by Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD), the events on May 18th and 19th will take place virtually as restrictions on gatherings related to the Covid-19 pandemic remain in place across the region. 

“We have learned so much about connecting remotely over the past year,” says Sophia Kanaan, Director of California Capital’s Women’s Business Center. “We have taken what Capital Region Small Business Week looked like in the past and revamped the programming to be as safe and accessible as possible, while still creating an engaging and inspiring atmosphere.”

With the goals of engagement and inspiration in mind, the programming has been designed to cater to specific types of business owners: sessions on Day 1 (May 18th) are geared towards start-up businesses and new entrepreneurs, while Day 2 (May 19th) will focus on topics most relevant to established businesses and those that have had to pivot their operations in recent times. 

Innovation For a Changing Business Environment 

While this structure is a departure from years past, the change reflects the evolving needs of small businesses across the Capital Region. Sessions, webinars, and business opportunities offered with specific types of businesses in mind will allow for deep dives into highly relevant topics, and ensure that business owners and entrepreneurs leave with information and connections that will help them thrive. 

“There will be presentations on a wide range of subjects, and our hope is that everyone leaves with tips, or leads, or new business contacts that they can leverage,” explains Ms. Kanaan. “We want to celebrate small businesses, but we also want them to see this as a chance for growth.”

Indeed, the growth of America’s small business ecosystem is celebrated annually across the country. National Small Business Week (NSBW) was first designated in 1963, and is now led by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) each May. While highlighting outstanding entrepreneurs, business owners, and advocates, NSBW also honors the fact that, according to the SBA website, “more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create nearly two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.” Capital Region Small Business Week honors this impact on a local level.

Click here to register for Day 1 of Capital Region Small Business Week, geared towards Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups (May 18).

Click here to register for Day 2 of Capital Region Small Business week, for Existing Businesses (May 19).

Capital Region Small Business Week will include presentations from: SMUD, Sacramento County Business Environmental Resource Center, Internal Revenue Service, California Capital Women’s Business Center (WBC), The City of Elk Grove, CSU Sacramento College of Business, The Truthful Kernel, Small Business Development Center, East West Bank, Marshall Retail Group, California Capital Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Sacramento Employment and Training Agency.