Small Business and Nonprofit Help

Small Business and Nonprofit Help is at the Lucile H. Bluford Branch of the Kansas City Public Library on Wednesday, October 14, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. It's a one-on-one session, so you're working with someone directly rather than sitting through a presentation. The focus is on the early stages of starting something: assessing whether you're ready to become an entrepreneur, organizing your ideas into a coherent shape, and writing a business plan.

If you've been sitting on an idea for a business or a nonprofit and aren't sure how to get it off the ground, this is exactly where you start. The one-on-one format means you can bring your specific questions and get a real answer instead of a general overview. It's as much about figuring out if you're ready to take the leap as it is about the actual paperwork.

The session is held at the Bluford Branch on the city's east side, which is named for Lucile H. Bluford, one of Kansas City's most accomplished and beloved figures. A student at Lincoln High School and the University of Kansas, she spent her career at The Kansas City Call, where she used her journalistic talents to champion civil rights and strengthen the African American community. The branch houses a strong collection of African American literature and underwent a $1.9 million renovation in 2009; in January 2023, the Library purchased additional property nearby to expand the 15,000-square-foot facility.

Beyond business and nonprofit support, the branch offers a Kids Café, notary services by appointment, voter registration, and a blood pressure check station. Small Business and Nonprofit Help runs from 1:30 to 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 14, at the Lucile H. Bluford Branch.