Small business resource fair is Monday at Ponte Vedra library

The St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) will host the Small Business Development Day Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, at the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the community.

To learn more about the Small Business Development Day or register to attend, call 904-827-6950 or go to sjcpls.org/event/small-business-development-day.

“Small business support is essential to strong, thriving communities,” Library System Director Debra Rhodes Gibson said. “The library helps lead our community by offering resources, services and programming to help local entrepreneurs and business owners be successful. The Small Business Development Day fair is just one example of how SJCPLS is advancing economic growth in St. Johns County.”

In partnership with St. Johns County Economic Development, the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida, CareerSource Northeast Florida, the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE and Jacksonville Women's Business Center, the event will feature a panel discussion from key industry mentors followed by an informational fair.

This event is made possible with support from the Friends of the Library Ponte Vedra Beach Branch.

In addition, St. Johns County residents and business owners can sign up for a free library card and access a diverse database suite that can assist in developing skills in business ownership and leadership, strategic planning and management, finance and taxes, market research and data, and more.

Digital resources can be found by going to sjcpls.org/econtent/small-business-resources and include:

• DemographicsNow – Access to robust and highly detailed U.S. demographic data. This database is ideal for gaining consumer and market insight when opening a business, finding an untapped audience for products/services, analyzing the shifts and needs of a given population, and so much more.
• Gale Business: Entrepreneurship – A comprehensive database that covers all aspects of starting and operating a business, including accounting, finance, human resources, management, marketing, tax and more.
• Gale Business Insights: Essentials – Easily find information on companies, industries and more in the context of timely news, statistical data and in-depth reports.
• Reference Solutions – A powerful online reference and research tool providing instant, real-time access to accurate, in-depth information on U.S. businesses and U.S. residents. Reference Solutions makes it faster and easier to find new business opportunities, research executives and companies, find news articles, conduct job searches, research papers, locate addresses and phone numbers, conduct market research and more.
• Universal Class – Free access to more than 500 online courses with CEU credits available. Classes are designed and led by professional instructors, complete with videos, assignments and quizzes. Courses include home business set-up, customer retention, marketing, budget and project management, business ethics and more.
• Weiss Financial Ratings – Access to accurate, independent ratings and financial planning tools you need to make informed decisions about your insurance, banking and investment options.

To learn more about the St. Johns County Public Library System and other library services, go to sjcpls.org.