The Small Business Development Center will teach business owners and entrepreneurs to use census data to help start or grow a business and to understand the business landscape for a region during a workshop planned for Oct. 24. The event is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Missouri S&T, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Census Bureau and Columbia College.

The workshop will be held 10:30 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 24, at Columbia College, 550 Blues Lake Parkway in Rolla, Missouri. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Visit businesslandscape.eventbrite.com to register.

“This is a hands-on workshop where people will learn about tools available to research and understand data that can help them make informed decisions about their business,” says Karen Leatherman, business development specialist at Missouri S&T SBDC. “Computers are provided, or you can bring your own laptop or device.”

Attendees will learn how to locate detailed information including income, poverty level and population in an area. They will also learn how to access information about potential customers and similar businesses for those starting, planning or expanding a business. Attendees will see a demonstration on how to gather data about an area of interest.

For more information, contact Karen Leatherman, business development specialist for the SBDC at leathermank@mst.edu or 573-341-4551. Missouri S&T’s SBDC provides business counseling and assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses in the areas of management, new business creation, business acquisition, business sales, marketing, financial analysis, human resources, operations management, succession planning and technology commercialization. Most services are provided at no cost.

SBDC is a University of Missouri Extension partner and part of the Missouri SBDC statewide network, which is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information about workshops, resources and programs offered by Missouri S&T’s SBDC, visit ecodevo.mst.edu.