UW, Other Partners Launch Community Navigator Program

The Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, based at the University of Wyoming, is providing business resources to traditionally underserved trailblazing small businesses in Wyoming through the Community Navigator Program (CNP). 

While the Wyoming SBDC Network provides advising and training to hundreds of small businesses every year, the network now helps small-business clients navigate available resources from several Wyoming CNP partner programs. The U.S. Small Business Administration funds the Wyoming CNP to offer targeted and specialized assistance to rural, women, veteran, micro, and socially and economically disadvantaged business owners throughout Wyoming. 

The Wyoming SBDC Network’s six Wyoming CNP partners are the Wyoming Smart Capital Network, UW Extension, Wyoming Women’s Business Center, The Local Crowd, Wyoming Library to Business and Wind River Development Fund. 

Through coordinated efforts, the Wyoming CNP provides navigation to no-cost resources in several key areas such as advising to secure funding opportunities, networking, expert advice, training, access to digital production equipment, business and marketing education, and more to Wyoming business owners. The program offers confidential one-on-one assistance to help Wyoming entrepreneurs bring their passion to life and unleash their full potential. 

“This federally funded program provides a unique opportunity for us to connect traditionally underserved business owners to the greater Wyoming entrepreneurial support network,” says Nicholas Giraldo, Wyoming CNP program manager. “Not only can we navigate them to resources to help their businesses succeed, but we also can navigate them through barriers so they can start, grow and expand their businesses, or help them recover.” 

The No. 1 challenge startups and small businesses looking to grow face is access to capital, according to Giraldo. Although this program does not directly provide funds to small businesses, Giraldo says, “Several of the partner organizations can assist small businesses in finding funds to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.” 

To learn how to access resources to start or grow a small business, go to www.wyomingcommunitynavigator.org. 

For more information on the Wyoming Community Navigator Program, or to request an interview, call Giraldo at (307) 399-8694 or email ngiraldo@uwyo.edu.