Cultivate Your Entrepreneurial Spirit During National Small Business Week, September 22-24, 2020

By Jim Murray | Business, Science, and Technology Department | Central Library

National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) annual celebration and recognition of the enormous impact that small business owners and entrepreneurs have on the economy, is being held this year from Tuesday, September 22, to Thursday, September 24.  Normally, the event takes place in May, but due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the SBA decided to move it to the fall. Appropriately, the theme of the 2020 National Small Business Week is “Recovery, Adaptation, and Innovation.” A virtual conference, showcasing presentations on this theme from economists, policy makers, and business owners and experts, is free and open to the public.

Although starting a small business in such tumultuous times as these sounds counterintuitive, such an endeavor has proven very popular with Alabamians this year. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, business applications in Alabama grew over 20% in the second quarter of the fiscal year compared to the same time period in 2019. Apparently, entrepreneurial opportunity can flourish even during periods of social upheaval.

For those who are interested in embarking on the adventure of starting their own business, the Birmingham Public Library is here to help. From developing a business concept to writing a business plan to getting a business off the ground, BPL has numerous resources that provide information and assistance.  Resources include books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines and newspapers, and an impressive collection of electronic research databases, most of which can be accessed from a home computer with a valid Public Libraries of Jefferson County card. 

For more information about how the Birmingham Public Library can help you locate information to meet your business needs, please call the staff in the Central Library's Business, Science, and Technology Department at 205-226-3690.