Dallas B.R.A.I.N promotes entrepreneurial literacy and local business development

Since launching last year, Dallas Business Resource and Information Network (B.R.A.I.N) has started pilot programs at the Highland Hills, Prairie Creek and Audelia Road branch libraries; established an advisory board and grown its partnership network by 50 percent.

B.R.A.I.N. workshops and events have included education in business plan and social media marketing, veteran small business resources, patents, trademarks, procurement, location analysis and business technology.

The network has also teamed with Goldman Sachs to launch the Business Industry Group (B.I.G.) Forum, a series of monthly programs providing information and opportunities for small businesses. Attendees will be provided with information from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and the City of Dallas’ Purchasing department.

The City’s Office of Economic Development (OED) and the Dallas Public Library (DPL) system launched the collaborative program in 2015 to promote entrepreneurial literacy and local business development via the 28 library branches, while positioning the city as a small businesses leader.

“We went through a facilitated conversation with the small business and startup communities,” said Karl Zavitkovsky, Director of the Dallas Office of Economic Development. “That process clarified where the City is well positioned to play a role. We can provide information, foster collaboration and market the entire ecosystem to the business communities in Dallas and nationally.”

Maximizing the OED/DPL collaboration meant repositioning existing assets to include co-locating staff and developing a joint work plan and calendar. The library’s Sammons Business Center facilitated partner events while enabling better resource matching. Through its website, podcast and blog, a network of mentoring, training, marketing, research and funding expertise merged with available customer service, training locales and event spaces found at DPL.

“Around the country, business owners are looking to their public libraries for business resources and information,” said Library Director Jo Giudice. We are looking forward to better meeting the demand observed here in Dallas as entrepreneurship is also a form of literacy.”

For more information on Dallas B.R.A.I.N. visit www.thedallasbrain.org or email [email protected].
For more information on the Goldman Sachs program model visit http://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/