Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will be hosting a Manufacturing Round Table on "Funding Opportunities for Manufacturers and Government Contracting" on Wednesday, June 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program will provide insight into funding opportunities with the Missouri Department of Economic Development's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies. Lesley Rone, DED Southeast Regional Manager, will explain the different ARPA funding opportunities, anticipated posting dates, general project guidelines, amount of funding and current allowable and non-allowable uses for the following funding areas: Broadband, Workforce Development, Industrial Site Development and Small Business. Willis Mushrush, the Procurement Specialist with Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Center (MO PTAC) at University of Missouri Extension, will share information about government contracting. The mission of the MO PTAC is to assist businesses in obtaining federal, state and local govern
WEST PLAINS, MO – The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will host its seventh annual National Small Business Week celebration on May 12 th , 2022. Current and aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders will come together at the incubator and be inspired by the journey of successful entrepreneurs and network with other business owners during EPIC (Entrepreneur Potential and Innovation Collaboration) 22. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event. EPIC 22 will feature keynote speaker Sarah Hill, CEO and Chief Storyteller at Healium, the world's first biometrically-powered VR/AR immersive media channel controlled by the user's brainwaves and heart rate via consumer wearables. Hill is a former interactive TV news journalist for the NBC, ABC, & CBS affiliates in Missouri. She has also been featured by Google for pioneering a new interactive brand of news broadcasting, utilizing Google Hangouts to facilitate audience participation. She
West Plains, MO. - The Ozarks Small Business Incubator, located in downtown West Plains, will be hosting what's called a "Bootcamp" for supervisors on Friday, April 1st of 2022. This program is intended to help small business owners of supervisors learn the skills they need to effectively organize, strategize, and become leaders in their workplace. The instructors of this program have been announced. Scot Scobee and David Miller of Missouri State University Springfield Small Business Development Center will be teaching this series on how to be the most effective manager, supervisor, and leader.
West Plains, MO. - The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) have partnered to bring quarterly art displays to the incubator. Local artist Karen Pitts' works will be featured inside OzSBI's first floor April 1 through the end of June 2022. Visitors may view the display at the incubator during OzSBI's business hours, anytime between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. "Karen's ability to use the principles of design to create vibrant abstract paintings will assure the viewer of an exciting experience," WPCA Coordinator Janey Hale said. "Though her works are abstractions they create a visual emotion that any art lover will appreciate." Pitts was born and raised in Oklahoma City. At a very young age, she knew she wanted to teach art. She attended Southwest Oklahoma Junior College, working towards an art degree. She, along with her family, moved to Willow Springs in 1989. Pitts returned to college to com
West Plains, Mo. - If you are looking for things to do in and around West Plains, you need to pick up the new 2022 Explore West Plains guidebook! The new guidebook is twice as big as last year's book. The 2022 edition includes an expanded section on attractions and parks in West Plains, West Plains events, mural tour of West Plains, history tour of West Plains, and famous West Plainsians. If you are wanting to explore the outdoors around West Plains, there are five day-trips featured or you can create your own day trip choosing locations featured within the book. You will find information about mills, springs, lakes and ponds, conservation areas, state parks, and points of interest. A map and turn-by-turn directions are included. If you are looking for outdoor adventure, the guidebook features river access locations, swimming holes, and information about the Ozark Trail for those wishing to mountain bike, horseback ride, or hike through the Mark Twain National Forest. You also wil