Oklahoma small business owners can learn how to prepare applications for state and federal funding opportunities with the third session of Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s In the Weeds masterclass series offered through the organization’s Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerators program.

The “Unlocking Lending Opportunities with TEDC” masterclass will be offered at eight different sites spread across Oklahoma on four different dates, ensuring local business owners in each region of the state have an opportunity to attend the in-person session.

The session will prepare small business owners of all types to craft compelling applications and gather the necessary supporting documents to apply for a wide array of government-funded business loan programs, including U.S. Small Business Association loans, State Small Business Credit Initiative venture capital, SSBCI lending and other Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology funding programs.

Attendees will learn how they can prepare loan and other funding applications to be able to present them to a funding decisionmaker with all the necessary steps in place. The session will walk participants through the process as they work to complete a sample loan application, with a special focus on the Oklahoma Business Lending partnership, a collaborative effort between OCAST and TEDC Creative Capital funded through SSBCI.

“Even if a business owner or entrepreneur is not currently seeking a loan or business capital, preparing a funding application is a great skill to have in your toolbox as your business grows and you seek new opportunities,” said Amarie Bartel, OKFB’s rural economic development coordinator.

The locations and dates for the Unlocking Lending Opportunities with TEDC masterclass are:

June 25 – Fairview and Pryor Fairview: Northwest Tech Center Pryor: Northeast Tech Center

July 16 – Alva and Drumright Alva: Northwest Tech Center Drumright: Central Tech Center

August 6 – Duncan and Wilburton Duncan: Red River Tech Center Wilburton: Eastern Oklahoma State College

August 27 – Elk City and Ada Elk City: Arrowhead Center Ada: Pontotoc Tech Center

Each class will be held from 5:30-7 p.m., and dinner will be provided at each location.

The event is free for business owners to attend, but registration is required and is available online on the OKFB website at okfarmbureau.org/intheweeds.

OKFB’s In the Weeds program is a four-session masterclass series designed to break down barriers that often exist between entrepreneurs and funding. The remaining session for 2025 is “Custom Solutions for Market-Specific Needs,” which will be hosted in the fall.

For more information on OKFB’s Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerators program, In the Weeds and other rural development initiatives, visit okfarmbureau.org/accelerator.