The college will host Banking on Success, a two-hour workshop designed to help entrepreneurs better understand financial readiness, business funding and the resources available to help them start and grow their businesses.

The workshop will be held Aug. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Snow College GRIT Center in Ephraim and Aug. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Snow College Richfield.

The events are part of CEED to Success (Community Entrepreneurship Economic Development), a national initiative focused on expanding entrepreneurship education and access to business financing, particularly for underserved entrepreneurs. The program places an emphasis on supporting veteran-, women- and minority-owned businesses.

Snow College is partnering with Baker Hill, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) and State Bank of Southern Utah to bring the program to central Utah.

Participants will learn about the steps involved in becoming financially ready to seek business funding, along with entrepreneurial resources available throughout the region. Representatives from State Bank of Southern Utah will also explain the lending process and answer questions from those attending.

Russ Tanner, director of the GRIT Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at Snow College, said the workshop reflects the college’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in rural communities.

“At Snow College, we are committed to ensuring that every aspiring entrepreneur–especially those in our rural communities–has access to the knowledge, resources, and partnerships needed to successfully launch and grow a business,” Tanner said. “This workshop gives entrepreneurs practical tools while connecting them with local experts who are invested in their success.”

For entrepreneurs, obtaining financing can be one of the biggest challenges in turning a business idea into a viable company. The workshop is intended to help participants understand what lenders look for and what business owners can do before approaching a financial institution.

The CEED to Success initiative seeks to address some of the barriers entrepreneurs have traditionally faced when trying to access capital by bringing educational institutions, financial organizations and community partners together.

“CEED to Success isn’t just a program–it’s a catalyst for strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems,” said Dirk Soma, director of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at Baker Hill. “By bringing together education, financial institutions, and community partners, we’re helping entrepreneurs gain the confidence and connections they need to move their businesses forward.”

State Bank of Southern Utah is also emphasizing the importance of supporting local entrepreneurs.

“We’re proud to support the GRIT Center and the important work they do to help entrepreneurs gain the knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to succeed,” said Casey Dyreng, senior vice president and area lending manager for State Bank of Southern Utah. “At State Bank of Southern Utah we believe in investing in local entrepreneurs is one of the best ways to build stronger communities.”

The partnership also gives participants an opportunity to connect directly with professionals who understand the local business environment.

For central Utah communities, encouraging entrepreneurship can have an impact beyond individual businesses. New and growing businesses can create jobs, provide needed services and contribute to the economic vitality of rural communities.

Snow College’s GRIT Center for Rural Entrepreneurship has made entrepreneurship and economic development a focus of its efforts to provide students and community members with practical tools for building businesses.

The Banking on Success workshops are free and open to current and aspiring business owners throughout central Utah. Those interested in attending can obtain registration information and additional details through the Snow College GRIT Center.

Founded in 1888 by Utah pioneers, Snow College operates campuses in Ephraim and Richfield, along with a learning center in Nephi. The college serves more than 5,000 students and emphasizes affordable education, personalized learning and opportunities for students to gain practical experience as they prepare for their futures.

The CEED to Success program brings together Snow College, Baker Hill, NACCE and State Bank of Southern Utah in an effort to make entrepreneurship education and financing resources more accessible to the people looking to build businesses in communities throughout the region.

For aspiring business owners who have questions about financing–or simply want to better understand what it takes to prepare for that conversation with a lender–the upcoming workshops offer an opportunity to learn from both business educators and local banking professionals.