Mississippi SBDC Network

10/15/2026

🚨 Last Week To Register! 🚨

We’re partnering with Paragon Bank and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council to bring you our final in-person Digital Marketing Bootcamp of 2026 in Oxford at the Lafayette County Multi Purpose Arena!

"Digital Marketing Bootcamp: Put AI to Work for Your Business" is a hands-on session designed to help small business owners move beyond simply hearing about AI and actually start using it.

During the Bootcamp, we’ll cover practical ways to use AI to support your digital marketing, including:

✨ Creating stronger marketing content
📱 Developing social media ideas and strategies
🌐 Improving your website and online presence
🤖 Writing better prompts and getting more useful results from AI tools

Bring your laptop and come ready to work! You’ll leave with tools, ideas and strategies you can begin putting into action right away.

A huge thank you to Paragon Bank and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council for partnering with us to make this event possible!

🔗 Register here: https://loom.ly/U9VkW44

10/14/2026

Your credit score can play a significant role in your financial future, especially when starting or growing a business. But do you know what determines your score, how lenders use it, or what steps you can take to improve it?

Join Derek Stephens, Assistant State Director of the Mississippi SBDC Network, for this practical ConnectMS webinar on October 27th as he breaks down the fundamentals of personal and business credit, explains how credit scores are calculated, and shares strategies for building a stronger credit profile.

Topics Covered:

Understanding Credit Scores & Credit Bureaus
Personal Credit vs. Business Credit
Strategies to Improve Your Credit
Actions You Can Take Today

Whether you're preparing to launch a business, seeking financing, or simply looking to improve your credit, this session will provide the knowledge and tools to take greater control of your financial future.

Register now: https://loom.ly/iyXkmi8

10/14/2026

Want to connect your organization with Mississippi’s founders, investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurial ecosystem? Sponsorship opportunities are available for Accelerate 2026, presented by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi SBDC Network.

This two-day event offers sponsors the opportunity to increase visibility, connect with key players across Mississippi’s startup and small business community, and support continued entrepreneurship and innovation across the state.

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/FaZg7r4

10/13/2026

We’re on WLOX-TV! 🎥✨

LaShaundra McCarty, Center Director for Mississippi SBDC @ Gulf Coast, recently joined WLOX to talk about the upcoming ScaleUp Business Conference, starting TOMORROW, October 14–15!

ScaleUp brings business owners together for two days of learning, connection and resources designed to help them grow, including opportunities to learn more about accessing capital, finding funding and connecting directly with lenders and resource partners.

Thank you to WLOX for helping us spread the word about this exciting opportunity for Mississippi entrepreneurs!

Watch the full story from WLOX here: https://loom.ly/Atr1yqA

Register or learn more about ScaleUp here: https://loom.ly/UG9nhYM

10/13/2026

From a handshake deal to a thriving downtown Vicksburg business. 🍽️

When Caleb Tillotson decided to bring The Biscuit back to life, he had the vision, but he also knew he needed help navigating the process.

That’s where Jim Harper, Regional Director with the Mississippi SBDC Network, came in.

Together, they worked through business planning, financials, market research, funding preparation, legal requirements, insurance, and the many other steps involved in opening a business.

Today, The Biscuit employs approximately 30–40 people, contributes to the local economy, and gives visitors another reason to experience downtown Vicksburg.

Hear Caleb and Jim tell the story of how an idea became a reality — and why Caleb now encourages other entrepreneurs to connect with the Mississippi SBDC Network.

🎥 Watch the full success story: https://loom.ly/i3vmthY

The Biscuit is a Vicksburg, Mississippi restaurant rooted in local ...

10/12/2026

In Case You Missed It 👋

$15,000 is up for grabs at Accelerate 2026!

Applications are now open for the InvestMS Scale-Up Pitch Competition, giving Mississippi companies the opportunity to pitch their business and compete for $15,000 in prize funding. Selected companies will pitch live during Accelerate 2026 on November 11 at The Sheraton Flowood Refuge Hotel & Conference Center.

🚨 Deadline extended: Apply by Thursday, October 15.

The InvestMS Scale-Up Pitch Competition is powered by the Regions Foundation and is part of Accelerate 2026, presented by Innovate Mississippi and the Mississippi SBDC Network.

Apply here: https://loom.ly/bRiDb-U

10/10/2026

In Case You Missed It 👋

We’re partnering with Paragon Bank and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council to bring you our final in-person Digital Marketing Bootcamp of 2026 in Oxford at the Lafayette County Multi Purpose Arena!

"Digital Marketing Bootcamp: Put AI to Work for Your Business" is a hands-on session designed to help small business owners move beyond simply hearing about AI and actually start using it.

During the Bootcamp, we’ll cover practical ways to use AI to support your digital marketing, including:

✨ Creating stronger marketing content
📱 Developing social media ideas and strategies
🌐 Improving your website and online presence
🤖 Writing better prompts and getting more useful results from AI tools

Bring your laptop and come ready to work! You’ll leave with tools, ideas and strategies you can begin putting into action right away.

A huge thank you to Paragon Bank and the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council for partnering with us to make this event possible!

🔗 Register here: https://loom.ly/U9VkW44

10/09/2026

The Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library is bringing the Smithsonian’s Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit to Oxford, with a full lineup of programs exploring creativity, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and the ideas that help communities grow.

For small business owners and entrepreneurs, October includes several especially relevant opportunities — from Innovation at Insight Park on Oct. 22 to the Big Bad Business Series: Night of Genius on Oct. 27.

Whether you’re building a business, developing a new idea or simply looking for inspiration, this is a great opportunity to see how innovation can begin with one person, one idea and one spark.

Explore the full October schedule in the graphic and learn more here: https://firstregional.org/spark/

10/09/2026

AI is changing the way small businesses work — and now is a great time to build your skills.

Through "The AI Ready Challenge," America's SBDC and Google are helping eligible small businesses earn the Google AI Professional Certificate at no cost.

The program includes seven hands-on courses designed to help you use AI tools in practical ways across your business.

Ready to get started? Visit https://loom.ly/HeuvQN0.

During registration, select "America’s Small Business Development Centers” as the partner that referred you, then enter your Mississippi SBDC name, city or ZIP code.

Learn to use AI to grow your business with training from Grow with Google. Our expert tutorials help small businesses save time and increase productivity

10/08/2026

From generations of farming to an award-winning Mississippi small business. 🌿

Beaver Creek Distillery in Bassfield was named Mississippi’s 2026 Rural Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration — a milestone in a story rooted in family, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

For co-founder Rhonda Phillips and her family, the business began with a simple question: how could they create more value from what they were already growing on their land? That idea eventually became a farm-based distillery, but getting there meant navigating complex financial, regulatory, and business challenges.

Through the Mississippi SBDC Network, Rhonda connected with advisors who helped guide the business through the process, including support from Don Calcott with the RISE Center.

Today, Beaver Creek Distillery is more than a place to purchase spirits. Visitors can experience tastings, tours, live music, special events, and the farm itself — all while connecting with a business deeply rooted in family and place.

🎥 Watch the full success story here: https://loom.ly/26q38cc

Beaver Creek Distillery in Bassfield, Mississippi, is a farm-based ...