Get Money Smart, Colorado!

Pay yourself first; start saving today. Don't spend more than you make. Budget your money. Your credit past is your credit future.

April is National Financial Literacy Month, and a partnership in Colorado called Money Smart Colorado is offering classes and workshops on how to become a smart money manager. Pueblo City-County Library District is a partner, and as part of Money Smart Colorado Week, April 24-30, is offering sessions at each of the branches on "Get your free credit report." Participants will learn how to request their free credit report and learn more about how their credit report is used by banks and credit companies, and strategies to improve their credit.

Dates, times, and locations are:
April 26th @ 6:30pm, Lamb Branch, 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd.,
April 27th @ 6pm, Pueblo West Branch,
April 28th @ 6pm, Barkman Branch, 1300 Jerry Murphy Blvd.,
April 29th @ 6pm, Rawlings Branch

To reserve a spot for any of these sessions, contact Cindy Shimizu 719-562-5667, Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org.

"Show me the money!" lenders panel @ Mi Casa Resource Center Wed. 3/31 @ 5:30pm

Mi Casa-Southern Colorado Women's Business Center and SCORE are hosting this informative seminar especially for small business owners needing access to financial resources. Learn where to find and get funds for small businesses. Hear what a panel of lenders have to say about

• grants for businesses
• micro-loans
• commercial bank loans
• SBA loans
• private investment groups
• and more!

Q&A session will follow panel presentation.

DATE: Wednesday, March 31st
TIME: 5:30-8:30pm
PLACE: Mi Casa Resource Center, 1249 E. Routt, Pueblo
COST: FREE!!

Please RSVP by Monday, March 29th by calling 719-542-0091 or emailing lcandelario@micasaresourcecenter.org

9 Ways to Prepare for Growth and Success - Preparing for Business Growth - Entrepreneur.com

9 Ways to Prepare for Growth and Success - Preparing for Business Growth - Entrepreneur.com

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Writing an effective business plan, Monday, March 15 @ 6:30pm, Lamb Branch

Join Alfonso Garcia, small business consultant from Mi Casa Resource Center, for an instructional session on how to write a business plan that will be an effective tool for starting your small business.

For more information or to sign up for this free session that is open to the public, call 562-5670 by March 12 to reserve a spot.

Please participate in a survey

If you live in Pueblo County, please complete a survey through Zoomerang. We would like to know more about the types of interests out there, how to better serve the community, and connect with business and vocational experts to provide services and programs to members of the library community.

Thank you!

It's tax time! 2009 taxes for small business owners

Tuesday, February 9 @ 6pm
Pueblo West Library

Joe Chainey, a Certified Bookkeeper and Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, will present a session on the latest tax code changes and discuss the ins and outs of small business taxes. Please bring your note pads and questions!

Joe leads the Pueblo office of Your CFO, Inc. Joe received his Bachelor's in Accounting Degree from Franklin University, and he began testing for the CPA exam in October 2008. He is enrolled in the MBA program at University of Phoenix. Joe has held positions as a public accountant and payroll accountant, in addition to owning his own business and serving in the armed forces. In his position at Your CFO, Inc., Joe assists in tax preparation for individuals and businesses, monthly accounting, payroll, QuickBooks support and other special projects.

Reserve a spot by contacting Cindy Shimizu (719) 562-5667, Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org

Grow your business online, Tuesday, December 8 @ 6pm

Growing your business has been challenging in recent years, especially with the economy being hit so hard. Gone are the days of easy leads from Yellowpages ads, newspaper ads, and even magazine ads. Today, if your business can’t be found on the Internet, you are missing a lot of potential and profitable customers. It can be overwhelming to try to figure out how to get online and do it all yourself. You can pick up books, buy online courses, attend seminars to try to learn how to do it, but there is a steep learning curve and an overabundance of information. You are busy running a business, likely a lean shop, often working many more hours now than ever in the past.

That’s where Mel Hirsch comes in. She will teach you some of the inside secrets to getting found online, what you can do without spending a fortune or taking a month of your time on the computer and how to totally dominate your competition.

Mel has a lifetime of business experience, being born into a fourth generation grocery family in Pueblo, and she has been self-employed most of her adult life. She has been working in online marketing since 2004, and now works full-time doing online marketing for local businesses.

Please call or email to reserve a spot: Cindy Shimizu 562-5667 or Cindy.Shimizu@pueblolibrary.org.

This session is free and open to the public.