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CREATE RECOVERY RESPONSE PLAN

NEW SUPPORT
FOR EXISTING VENTURES

NOTE: THESE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND COMING SOON

CREATE CONSULTS

This professional assistance program will underwrite COVID-19 related consultations for local ventures with experts in urgent areas of need including commercial operations, nonprofit operations, accounting, legal services, marketing, community engagement, IT solutions, and life & career coaching.

ONLINE MULTI-VENDOR MARKETPLACE

With traditional markets, pop-up events, and other brick & mortar retail options closed, this online marketplace provides a convenient option for customers to shop and support local ventures, with increased visibility and higher “foot traffic” due to the collaborative marketing power of Create Birmingham and the individual vendors.

REBUILD
Dates TBD

This special COVID-19 recovery-focused edition of the CO.STARTERS business launching platform is currently being offered in the place of the original ten-week core curriculum. This live-facilitated program helps participants refocus their business, identify quick to market strategies, reduce and streamline overhead costs, understand COVID-19 laws and funding opportunities, and stabilize and build toward long-term recovery.

CURRENT SUPPORT FOR EXISTING VENTURES

COFFEE WITH JESSICA
Mondays at 9 am

This weekly meeting helps local artists, small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs start the week off with coffee, brainstorming, and goal setting. It allows you to share recent challenges and concerns and discuss how to continue adapting your businesses.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

These events (occurring twice a month) delve more deeply into specific COVID-19 related topics, such as mental health for small business owners and exploring loan options in times of crisis, with local experts sharing critical information and taking questions.

RECOVERY BOOTCAMP
monthly

This series of four 90-minute virtual workshops is designed to help small businesses, nonprofits, artists, and solo entrepreneurs rethink the new daily routine to maximize time and focus, reframe the products, programs, & services they offer, and reconnect with customers & patrons in challenging circumstances.

OFFICE HOURS
by appointment

Staff devotes extensive time to the mentorship of small businesses, artists, nonprofits, early stage entrepreneurs, and emerging organizations, connecting them to resources and facilitating new relationships through one-on-one consultations.

ROADMAP WORKSHOP
monthly

This two-hour workshop is an opportunity to establish goals, assess current needs, and receive accountability for your growing business. Using the CO.STARTERS canvas as a guide, participants set milestones and create actionable tasks to help keep them on track.

SUPPORT FOR CO.STARTERS GRADUATES

ADVISOR FUND

Defrays early startup costs related to legal, financial, or branding expertise. We consider these funds as investments in a successful launch, and they do not have to be repaid.

MARKETPLACE FUND

Defrays early startup costs related to pop-up events, market booth fees, online and mobile retail, leasehold improvements, and other distribution-related costs. We consider these funds as investments in a successful launch, and they do not have to be repaid.

REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM

A traditional loan program managed by Sabre Finance, a Community Development Institution, that can be an entry point to establishing creditworthiness and history for entrepreneurs whose business models are not of immediate interest to traditional lenders.

CO.SHOP

A shared retail opportunity for CO.STARTERS graduates located at Square One Goods Co. at Founders Station in downtown Birmingham.

CO.WORK

Subsidized shared office and meeting space for CO.STARTERS graduates at Forge Coworking Space at The Pizitz in downtown Birmingham or at MAKEbhm or Practice Works, both located in Avondale.

SUPPORT
FOR NEW
VENTURES

GET STARTED
monthly

This three-hour workshop is designed for entrepreneurs who have a business idea or would like to grow their business through a new product and/or service. It’s a low-commitment opportunity to understand the drive behind a business, explore an idea using the CO.STARTERS Canvas, and refine the model by learning ways to get meaningful customer feedback and start pursuing the idea today.

CO.STARTERS
Dates TBD

The ten-week business launching platform equips a diverse group of aspiring creative entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn business ideas into action. Unlike traditional platforms, CO.STARTERS applies the lean business modeling methods popular among high-growth startups to creative businesses of all kinds.

OFFICE HOURS
by appointment

Staff devotes extensive time to the mentorship of small businesses, artists, nonprofits, early stage entrepreneurs, and emerging organizations, connecting them to resources and facilitating new relationships through one-on-one consultations.