Useful Links
The business resources below are excellent choices to further help you develop and grow your business. REI has a long-standing working relationship with them and is pleased to provide you with a link to their respective web sites.
- U.S. Small Business Association – Small Business Planner
The SBA provides many resources to help businesses grow and succeed. The Small Business Planner includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of your business. For more information, go to: www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html. To view an online tutorial on How To Write a Business Plan, go to: www.sba.gov/training/sbabp/index.htm. - Tools for Online Success
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Google announced a new partnership and unveiled Tools for Online Success, an array of online resources and training designed to help small business owners harness technology to grow their businesses. The site features tutorials, video testimonials, and tips from savvy small business people who have leveraged the web to become more efficient, more cost-effective, and more successful. For more information, go to: www.google.com/help/places/partners/sba/index.html. - SCORE
SCORE, mentors to America’s small business, is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow and succeed nationwide. Volunteers are working or retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders who share their wisdom and lessons learned in business. They offer free and confidential business advice through Ask SCORE online, face-to-face mentoring, workshops and more. For more information, go to: www.score.org. - Oklahoma Community Institute
The Oklahoma Community Institute was created in 1995 as a result of a recommendation in Oklahoma’s 5-year economic development plan to focus on providing assistance to communities that want to help themselves. To achieve their mission, OCI provides three areas of focus: Community-wide Strategic Planning, the Oklahoma Citizens Academy and the Conference on Community Renewal. Review their programs and services, then contact them to talk about your community needs and how OCI can help meet them. For more information, go to: www.ocionline.org. - Federal Trade Commission
Almost every day, you’re involved in some type of financial transaction requiring an educated decision. This site has information for you, whether you’re shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, checking the accuracy of your credit report, dealing with debt collectors, or looking for ways to protect your personal financial information. Credit is much more than a piece of plastic, and the resources on this site can help you become a more savvy consumer. This site also has publications for businesses on credit issues and information on credit-related Rules and Acts enforced by the FTC. For more information, go to: www.ftc.gov/credit. - Grow in Oklahoma City
GrowInOKC.com is your window into the entrepreneurial community in the Greater Oklahoma City region. It offers you access to the many resources this region has that are nurturing our growing entrepreneurial culture. This site provides you with a comprehensive framework for thinking about, launching, and growing your business. For more information, go to: www.growinokc.com. - Internal Revenue Service – U.S. Department of the Treasury
Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource – Find it Fast! Know what you’re looking for and want to find it fast? Select business topics using the A-Z listing, or by business type such as sole proprietor, corporation, etc. This site also provides links to major business subjects, such as Business Expenses, which provides a gateway to all related information on that subject. For more information on IRS Small Business Resources, go to: www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index. - U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Women’s Business Ownership
The Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) assists women wanting to achieve their dreams and improve their communities by helping them start and run successful businesses, regardless of social or financial disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business background. OWBO and the Women’s Business Center Program are integral components of Entrepreneurial Development’s network of training and counseling services. For more information, go to: www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/onlinewbc. - Oklahoma Agritourism
If you currently run an agritourism business in Oklahoma, we’d like to be your resource for marketing, promotion and issues that face your industry. Together, we’ll make Oklahoma an even better tourist destination! If you are involved in agritourism, please let us know about you! For more information, go to: www.oklahomaagritourism.com. - Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
IAs Oklahoma’s technology-based economic development agency, OCAST had its start during a time of economic stress. Its job – to build a technology infrastructure that will sustain Oklahoma citizens for now and in to the future. For more information, go to: www.ocast.state.ok.us. - Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
The Oklahoma Cooperative Service (OCES) is headquartered at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. The bond between OCES and REI has provided business and technical assistance to rural small and mid-sized manufacturers to improve company competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability. OCES applications engineers that provide one-on-one, on-site engineering assistance and technology service facilitate this accomplishment. Shea Pilgreen, OSU applications engineer, is located at REI headquarters. Contact Shea Pilgreen at shea.pilgreen@okstate.edu or call 1-800-658-2823. For more information, go to: www.okalliance.com. - Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology
When it comes to serving business and industry, Oklahoma’s career and technology education system knows how to do it right! They understand that productivity and profit matter. Whether you are a company considering locating in Oklahoma, an existing Oklahoma company, a small business person wishing to grow your business, or an entrepreneur just getting started – they have programs and services in place to help you achieve your goals. Our system of 54 technology center campuses covers the state so, no matter where you are located or thinking of locating we are there to serve you! For more information, go to: www.okcareertech.org. - Oklahoma Department of Commerce – OKStartup
Whether you are starting a new business or trying to maintain or grow an existing small business in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce makes it a priority to provide you the information and connection to resources you need. For more information on OKStartup, go to: www.okcommerce.gov/smallbiz. - Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
The mission of the Alliance is to help small manufacturers get the help they need to compete and grow, thus creating more jobs in the local community. The Alliance is a non-profit corporation funded by a combination of government grants and membership fees. As a member of the Alliance, the manufacturer has an edge over the competition through access to educational programs, networking opportunities, special information and data. For more information on the Alliance, go to: www.okalliance.com. - Oklahoma Small Business Development Center
No business is too small to receive assistance from the trained professionals at the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center. Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the OSBDC offers assistance with business plans, marketing research and identification, international trade, cash flow analysis and general management. For more information, visit www.osbdc.org. - Oklahoma Southeast
Oklahoma Southeast is more than a geographic region. It is the ideal climate for business, with close proximity to major markets, highly ranked incentive packages, renowned training programs and a pro-business attitude all strategically located in the heart of the United States. These advantages have inspired companies like Cardinal Glass, Huber, Dollar Tree and Big Lots to call Oklahoma Southeast their home. For more information on Oklahoma Southeast, go to: www.oklahomasoutheast.com. - U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Advocacy
In 1976, the U.S. Congress created the Office of Advocacy within the U.S Small Business Administration to protect, strengthen and effectively represent the nation’s small businesses within the federal government’s legislative and rule-making processes. The Office of Advocacy works to reduce the burdens that federal policies impose on small firms and maximize the benefits small businesses receive from the government. Advocacy’s mission, simply stated, is to encourage policies that support the development and growth of American small business. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, go to: www.sba.gov/advo/. - Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies (CETES)
CETES provide guidance and strategic analysis to companies to empower them to think through their options for growing their company and/or seeking out new market opportunities. The CETES team is independent from your organization and therefore able to consider options that may not be obvious to professionals who focus on a particular industry. Management teams are so busy running their companies that it is difficult for them to break away from daily operations, conduct research, or spend time exploring new options. Many companies do not have strategic planning experts on staff. The CETES team with global business experience across diverse industries brings these benefits to your company. For more information on CETES, go to: www.cetes.org.