SBDC & Partner
Training & Events

Aspiring farmers can explore what it takes to turn a farm idea into a viable business at this hands-on workshop. Participants will learn key startup considerations, connect with agricultural and business resources, and hear directly from working farmers. The workshop also includes networking, an organic produce farm tour, and lunch. Cost is $25 per person and includes lunch.

Are you building a technology or science-based company—or helping founders bring innovative ideas to market? Join the American Technology Venture Lab and Carolina Tech Founders for an evening connecting technology and science-based founders with mentors, investors, educators, entrepreneurial support organizations, and community leaders. Build relationships, exchange ideas, and discover resources that can help innovative ventures launch and grow.

Zainab Ghadiyali will share practical lessons from a career spanning engineering, product leadership, and entrepreneurship, including work on Facebook’s first public-health product, Airbnb’s re-architecture, and companies focused on expanding access to AI. Attendees will hear how to learn quickly as technology changes, build with purpose, recover when plans shift, navigate career pivots, and turn an unconventional path into an advantage when creating something new.

Ready, Set, Supply! helps small businesses learn how to access funding, business resources, and government contracting opportunities. Attendees will hear what lenders look for, explore local and state growth resources, and learn how to better position their business for contracting opportunities. The event is designed to help businesses connect with valuable networks and prepare for long-term growth.

This live webinar will help small business owners better understand key employment laws and reduce risk in the workplace. Led by employment law attorney Brian Sopp, the session will cover discrimination, harassment, ADA and FMLA requirements, wage and hour issues, employee evaluations and discipline, independent contractors, and other common compliance concerns.

Join InnoVision at Winthrop University in Rock Hill for a conversation on how innovative ideas move from concept and prototype to commercialization, manufacturing, and scale, featuring leaders with deep experience in entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, product development, and advanced manufacturing.

Is your website working as hard as you are? This in-person workshop will cover five practical ways to improve website performance, attract more customers, and turn more visitors into clients. Attendees will learn how AI is changing marketing, which performance metrics matter most, how the sales and marketing funnel works, and practical SEO strategies that can help strengthen their website and overall online presence.



Learn what it really takes to scale a business by building the right team, partnerships, and support network around you. Chris McCord will share practical lessons on knowing when to hire, avoiding common people-related growth mistakes, and creating a strong foundation for sustainable growth.

This workshop offers practical strategies for business owners looking to accelerate growth while mitigating the risks that can impede progress. You’ll gain insights into identifying both internal and external obstacles, and learn how to develop a proactive approach to overcome these challenges.

Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday business, but many owners and professionals are still trying to understand what it means for them. This Lunch & Learn will break down how AI works, where it can be useful, and how businesses can begin using it with confidence.

Attendees will explore questions such as:

-What can AI actually do for my business right now?
-Which tools are worth trying?
-How can AI help with marketing, communication, planning, research, writing, or daily operations?
-What should I know before getting started?

This session is designed for business owners, managers, professionals, and anyone curious about using AI to save time, solve problems, and make stronger business decisions. Through real-world examples and demonstrations, attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how AI can support everyday business tasks without feeling overwhelming or overly technical.

Lunch Included!

A four-part marketing workshop series at York Technical College in Rock Hill this July 8-29th (Wednesdays; 6-7:30pm) focused on storytelling, social media, customer relationships, and practical marketing strategies for small businesses.

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee invites established business owners for an evening of networking, insights, and celebration! Exclusive business updates and celebration! Insights from successful entrepreneurs with a marketing concentration. Update on the City of Rock Hill Tourism Marketing plan.

This session brings together experienced professionals in development, preservation, architecture, and finance to walk through real-world approaches to improving and positioning downtown properties.

When it comes to business, don't skimp on protecting your data. This is more than cybersecurity. As a small business owner, what are you doing to protect yourself? What are your most valuable data categories? What is your biggest weakness? Now that CMMC Level 1 is part of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), it is imperative that DoD contractors self-attest that they comply with cybersecurity. However, this model can be applied to any small business. Join our no-cost, one-hour workshop to learn more.

As a small business owner, you want to see your business thrive while you excel at serving your customers, and when it comes to funding, you want to make sure the borrowing process doesn't distract yuo from those goals. Learning why businesses borrow, where to turn for funding, and how the lending process works makes for a smoother, smarter, and often more successful outcome.

Miranda Teague and Cheryl Meeks from Truist Bank will facilitate the session and will provide valuable take-away resources to help you and your business.

Join the SC SBDC for this free, one-hour webinar featuring a food truck owner talking about how she has built a successful business. Hear her successes and struggles as she has a conversation with SC SBDC Food Systems Specialist Jim Johnson.

Strong financial management starts with understanding your numbers. This session breaks down the key financial statements every business owner should know:
- Balance Sheet
- Income / Profit & Loss (P&L) Statement
- Cash Flow Statement
- Statement of Owner’s / Stockholders’ Equity

Participants will learn how these statements work together to tell the story of your business and how to use them to monitor performance and make strategic decisions.

This joint training from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will introduce small business owners and HR professionals to SBA programs and services - such as counseling, access to capital, government contracting assistance, and more. An EEOC spokesperson will explain employer responsibilities under federal EEO laws and share practical compliance tips and best practices to help prevent and remedy workplace discrimination.

In this course, you’ll learn key steps to homeownership and the mortgage process, finding the right home for your budget, and the advantages of buying a home.

We’ll also provide valuable takeaway resources to help you on your journey to homeownership.

In this course, you'll learn the "why" and "how" of separating your business and personal finances that can set you and your business up for success.

Miranda Teague and Cheryl Meeks from Truist Bank will facilitate the session, and will provide valuable take-away resources to help you and your business.

This dynamic presentation explores the powerful intersection of intellectual property and artificial intelligence, revealing how AI is reshaping the way ideas are created, protected, and monetized. From machine generated inventions and creative works to data ownership and trade secret protection. We’ll unpack the critical questions redefining innovation in the digital era.

Morning Business Connections are free monthly meetings that provide residents of the county the opportunity to hear from Chamber members on various unique topics as well as network with fellow members and residents.

Unlock the full potential of your Chamber membership at our Chamber 101 Workshop! This session is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the benefits, resources, and opportunities available to you as a Chamber member.

This structured yet relaxed speed-networking event is designed to connect our newest members with our seasoned pros, giving you the perfect platform to build lasting professional relationships.