Aurora Business Development offers its core services at no or low cost, including informative seminars and one-on-one counseling by appointment on a variety of business topics. Taking a few seminars is the best way to get a wealth of information in each three-hour session. This helps to maximize your time with a Small Business Specialist.

See below for upcoming Aurora business seminars:

* seminar descriptions
* 2nd - 3rd quarter seminars as a pdf
* complete on-line calendar for 2011
* note the seminar fee structure for 2011
* location: Aurora Municipal Center (map)

Basics of Starting Your Business
Tues., June 14th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, FREE
Excellent information to get your business underway - - the proper way!
Offered again, Wed., July 13th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
In collaboration with Arapahoe/Douglas Works! at the Lowry Campus (see map)

Public & Private Contracts 101
Wed., June 15th, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, FREE
Procurement specialists from Buckley AFB, the SBA, CH2M Hill, the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) and the City of Aurora discuss the ins and outs of government and corporate contracting/sub-contracting, including obtaining 8(a) certifications.

Financing Your Business
Thurs., June 16th, 9:00 - 11:00 AM, FREE
Learn how successful borrowers pick the right financing options and make their proposals attractive to funding sources.
Offered again, Tues., July 12th, 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Marketing in the Fast Lane, modules 1-4 -- complete your marketing plan this August!
Four consecutive Tuesdays, August 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$* $80/Aurora residents/businesses; $100 all others
See also the Business Plan modules below.

Writing Your Business Plan, Modules 1-4 -- complete your business plan this August!
Four consecutive Thursdays, August 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$* $80/Aurora residents/businesses; $100 all others
See also the Marketing modules above.

Sales & Use Tax 101
Thurs., August 11th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, FREE
A must-attend for anyone selling tangible property at wholesale or retail, service businesses, and/or those who prepare returns for Colorado business owners.

Plan Your Web Site
Tues., August 30th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM, $*
If you build a web site, be sure you can generate traffic, using essential components of effective e-commerce.

Marketing on a Shoestring
Tues., September 6th, 1:00 - 4:00 PM $*
No/low-cost practical and effective marketing tactics proven successful across many industries.

Starting a Restaurant
Thurs., September 8th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, $*
It's not as easy as pie, so learn to start a restaurant according to the rules and regs, and plan to finance it realistically.

QuickBooks for Beginners I & II
Thurs., September 15th & 22nd, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$* Must take both classes @ $50/Aurora residents & businesses; $70/all others
Session I is important introductory material to bookkeeping and the QuickBooks software.
Session II is hands-on experience using the software. Session I is a pre-requisite.
Familiarity with a computer keyboard and Windows operating system required.

Legal Rules of Business -- see announcement
Wed., September 21st, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM, $* -- an excellent value -- not to be missed!
A business attorney will provide in layman’s terms an overview of legal issues common to businesses.

¿Habla español?  Favor de llame Santos Blan,
          (303) 326-8693, para más informes.

Moving a tad slowly?  Don't let that stop you!

Plan to win this year with a 'winning' business and marketing plan! The Small Business Specialists at Aurora Business Development will guide you through the process of honing in on your specific business goals and objectives with ideas and strategies to realize your potential for growth.  Meet with the class each morning the first four Tuesdays and Thursdays in August.  All eight modules are highly recommended.  A strategic marketing plan is at the core of the overall business plan.  By the end of the month, your business will be ready to take on the competition, improve sales and focus attention where you need it the most.

Marketing in the Fast Lane
Tuesdays - Aug. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
$80/Aurora residents/businesses; $100 all others  $*

Writing Your Business Plan
Thursdays - Aug. 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
$80/Aurora residents/businesses; $100 others  $*

$* Discounted rate for all eight classes:
$160/Aurora residents/businesses($80 for four modules)
$200 all others ($100 for four modules)

Springhill Suites Marriott Grand Opening, June 8th

What does the grand opening of the Springhill Suites Marriott mean for the Fitzsimons redevelopment area? This new hotel at 13400 E. Colfax Ave. in Aurora is part of a larger 31-acre Master Plan for the area, known as Fitzsimons Village.  It includes the Children’s Hospital office building, parking garage and pedestrian bridge.  Full build-out of the area calls for additional commercial and residential development to meet the needs of the 16,000 people that are currently employed at the medical campus and over 60,000 monthly visitors to the University of Colorado Hospital, the Anschutz Medical Center, the Children’s Hospital, and Veteran’s Hospital as well as the students and researchers at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and associated facilities.

Tips, Articles, Posts and Links

Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer's final State of the City address...  Watch the video on YouTube's The Aurora Channel (speech given on May 18, 2011).

The Dangers of Discounting -- What's the real cost? -- by Liz Wendling, the sales coach for women (article for cobizmag.com, May 11, 2011)  "Part of your ongoing battle with competitors is on pricing. They lower their prices, and you feel forced to keep up with them and lower yours. There are different strategies involved in pricing that do not always involve cutting prices, but they do involve being more competitive."  Read more about pricing...

The Business of Art, an E-Myth Your Business Podcast -- by Karin Iwata (for
E-Myth.com, May 24, 2011)  "Can an artist, one who thrives on creative and technical work, create a successful business doing that art? What’s the secret of the lucky few who’ve managed to turn their artistic passions into a profitable business?" Visit this link: E-Myth Your Business Podcast with artist Tara Reed.

Secrets to a Good SEO Keyword List -- by Melanie Rembrandt of Rembrandt Communications (for StartupNation.com, May 11, 2011):

• Put yourself in your customers' shoes.
• What words are your competitors using?
• Discover free tools for actual keyword searches.
• Make informed choices and monitor the results.
• Read the article...

New Alternatives in Small Business Financing -- MarketWise Community 2011 (from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Spring 2011):  "This article describes three types of non-traditional SBA lending partners, along with examples of the credit products they offer to small businesses." (as seen in the Economic Development News, April 23, 2011)  Go to the pdf...

Cruzin' Havana Car Show and Poker Run
Sat., June 18th, 3:00 - 9:00 PM
No Admission or entry fees!
Over 5,000 classic cars, music, food, fun!
Free Collectors' Edition Car Show!
Read all about it!

Havana Farmers' Market
June 20th - October 24th, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Havana Exchange Shopping Center parking lot
(along Havana, south of Yale, in front of Bicycle Village)
2832 So. Havana St., Aurora CO 80014

Art 2C On Havana
a new public art project
Coming Soon!  On Havana Street is partnering with the City of Aurora's Arts in Public Places to place sculptures at 10 locations along Havana in 2011. The Art 2C On Havana Steering Committee will make site selections and a call for artists later in June.  Keep an eye on On Havana Street for more information.

On Havana Street is a Business Improvement District (BID) created in 2007 to serve one of Aurora's local small business communities.  On Havana Street offers an effective way to deliver services and capital improvements with the following purpose:  "to build a stronger, better community...making a difference by focusing on unique, culturally diverse events and fun new things to do to make the lives of the area's residents and visitors more interesting", while, at the same time, "adopting the goals of clean, safe and beautiful..."
Read more at OnHavanaStreet.com.

Aurora Job Reward Program

The City of Aurora is offering incentives to small businesses who are adding at least two full-time positions in 2011-2012. The maximum incentive is $5,000 per position per year. Read about the requirements, incentive reimbursements and application process..

Visit the Census 2010 Business Dynamics Statistics page.
For some quick Aurora facts, click here...