Opportunities for Small Black Business Owners

"Every business idea deserves a business plan."
​- Professor Walter Miller

By Beverly Agbor - Staff Writer

   A small craft beer business, Vanessa House Beer Company, is launching an event to support local black businesses in honor of Black History Month. 
​   The company specializes in the production and distribution of craft beer. The company, owned by Zach Smith, Evan Smith, Justin Wright and Nick White, has different flavors of beer that
include sour and stout just to name a couple.
    Justin Wright, one of the co-founders of the company who is a full-time employee, has helped promote local businesses around the community. 
   “Our goal is to promote local businesses and give people a chance to network,” Wright said. 
   The Vanessa House Beer Company partnered with non-profit businesses such as Cut it Forward, which helps foster kids of color, and Knotted Bow Ties, which creates local artistic bow ties.
   “It is our own way of giving and helping the community,” said Nick Wright.
   The company uses its marketing resources and establishment to help teach and promote local businesses wanting to grow bigger.
   In relation to Rose State College, the Professional Training Center is offering programs to help develop many businesses and business owners.
   They have three departments: Workforce Development, continuing education and the marketing department.
   Workforce Development offers training programs through their workforce team to help small business owners start up.
   Vice President of External Pratt oversees Workforce Development at Rose State and works together with the workforce team to help develop these programs.
   “The Small Business Development Center helps fund part of the programs and Rose State College funds the other half of the programs,” Pratt said.
   The Small Business Center provides consultants to help clients in any phase of their business.
   Professor Walter Miller, one of the business development consultants, sets appointments with clients to help them create business ideas, provide resources and market their products.
   “We are here to help create entrepreneurs at Rose State and Oklahoma County,” Miller said.
   The Small Business Development Center further provides different training programs such as drone training, cyber security, collaborative training and specialty training.
   “Our goal is to inform other students and people of the resources we have available to start up a business of any sort,” Miller said.
   The resources are free and open to any student of Rose State or any member of the community who needs a head start in starting up a business.
  Every month, the Small Business Development Center provides a tax workshop that helps in business plan development, loan packaging and other requirements to start up a business.
   “Every business idea deserves a business plan,” Miller said.
For more information about workforce development and the services offered, visit rose.edu.
For more information about Vanessa House Beer Company, visit vanessahousebeerco.com.