Small Business Resources

We have databases to help you start and grow a business, and we provide free training to help individuals or groups learn to use these databases. Book A Librarian to request training.

Small Business Launchpad

The Small Business Launchpad is an 8-week entrepreneurship program designed for formerly incarcerated individuals who are interested in starting or growing a small business. This program supports aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners with prior state or federal convictions as they learn the fundamentals of launching and operating a business. At the conclusion of the program, participants will pitch their business ideas for an opportunity to receive startup funding.

Get Launchpad Details and Application

Small Business Center

The Small Business Center, located on the 2nd floor of the Clark Family Branch, offers a variety of resources for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The Center has a variety of seating along with moveable walls to create collaborative spaces including access to private use rooms. Additional amenities include Wi-Fi, computers, and a copy center.

Reserve a Room

D&B Hoovers

Offers in-depth financial comparisons and analysis of over 85 million public and private companies.

Adult Programs
Subscription Database

Foundation Directory Online (In Library Use Only)

Access detailed information on grant makers, grants, and grant recipients, as well as access to grant maker web sites and searchable 990s.

Adult Programs
Subscription Database

Gale Business: Entrepreneurship

Covers starting and operating a business, includes business journals and a wide selection of sample business plans.

Adult Programs
Subscription Database

LinkedIn Learning

Access thousands of self-paced online courses and tutorials in over 10 languages to help you learn about leadership, career searching, software, marketing, and many other skills essential to the job market.

Adult Programs, Teen Programs
Digital Service, eCourses

Reference Solutions

Directory with millions of listings for businesses, residents, new movers, and consumers across the U.S.

Adult Programs
Subscription Database

Simply Analytics

Web-based mapping application that lets users create professional-quality thematic maps and reports using demographic, business, health, and marketing data.

Adult Programs
Subscription Database

Our Databases Can Help You!

Search LawDepot for the legal forms you’ll need to start and run a business.

Learn about your competitors’ locations, executives, sales volume and expenses using Reference Solutions.

Reference Solutions allows you to create free mailing lists containing names and addresses of potential residential and business clients.

First Research provides industry reports, risk assessments, forecasts for growth, opportunities, trends, challenges, critical issues, executive insights and more to help you decide if a business is worth starting.

Simply Analytics and Reference Solutions will help you determine the market demand and size for your product or service.

Find current statistics and five year forecasts to support a grant application using Simply Analytics. Discover grant funding opportunities, 990s and the efforts a foundation has previously funded using Foundations Directory Online.

Find businesses or people most likely to purchase your product or service and discover people and businesses new to your area using Reference Solutions. Learn about a company’s executives, locations, sales volume and more using Reference Solutions or D&B Hoovers.

Take free courses to learn how to start and run a business through LinkedIn Learning and Udemy.

Search for companies like yours in a specific area or that have gone out of business using Reference Solutions.

Access over 600 sample business plans in Small Business Source and over 1,000 sample business plans in Gale Business: Entrepreneurship. Find statistical information needed for your business plan in First Research, Reference Solutions, and Simply Analytics.

See the full list of organizations.