GROW
GROW’S curriculum teaches what you need to know to develop your business. GROW will help you hone your business plan, expand your understanding of how to manage your business and navigate the always-changing business environment. Sessions are presented by RPBA staff and professional subject matter experts. GROW will provide you with expert guidance on implementing best practices and models that are keys to business resiliency, growth and sustainability.
Our foundation sessions are offered in a Bootcamp called One Day Intensive, a 5 week series called Hit the Ground Running, and a 8 week series called The Complete Program.
THE COMPLETE PROGRAM
8 weeks – Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Training Program
Thursdays from February 6 to March 27, 2025
6 – 8 p.m.
Virtual
No cost to participate.
Register below and a GROW Team Member will contact you to schedule a required interview.
Sessions are interactive and include:
- Business Model Development
- Entity Selection
- Naming, Intellectual Property, Trademark, Copyright, and Patents
- Business Formation
- Business Plan Writing and Pitch Development
- Finding and Leveraging Data for Business Success
- Budget Development, Cash Flow, Pricing Strategies
- HR, Operations, IT
- Marketing, PR and Social Media
- Sales
- Risk Management
- Business and Personal Financial Planning and How the U. S. Credit System Works
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
5 weeks – Core Curriculum Entrepreneurial Training Program
Thursdays from October 9 to November 6, 2025
6 – 8 p.m.
Virtual
No cost to participate.
Register below and a GROW Team Member will contact you to schedule a required interview.
Sessions are interactive and include:
- Business Model Development
- Entity Selection, Naming, Intellectual Property
- Business Formation
- Budget Development, Cash Flow, Pricing Strategies
- Business and Personal Financial Planning and How the U. S. Credit System Works
- Risk Management
More time to GROW!
Each GROW Cohort is followed by two additional, optional weeks of experiential learning:
- Capital Access with Lenders (April 2, November 12, 2025, virtual, 6 – 8 p.m.)
Meet with bank representatives, lending partner organizations and crowdfunding experts to learn how you can get money for your business. - Pitch Competition (April 9, November 19, 2025, in-person, 7 – 9 p.m.)
Pitch your business concept to an expert panel of judges.
Get Ready to GROW!
The Complete Program
8 weeks
Thursdays from February 6 to March 27, 2025
6 – 8 p.m.
Virtual
No cost to participate.
Register below and a GROW administrator will get back to you with more information.
The group provided confidence because we were all following our dreams. Thank you.
Staff
GROW as a program was launched in 2013 by Rogers Park Business Alliance, which continues to manage and support its expansion. Its highly interactive curriculum includes basic business knowledge, specialty subject education, and high-quality technical and specialty assistance consultations. In 2019 GROW expanded to include a Spanish curriculum with PROGRESANDO. The program is led by RPBA’s staff who, along with leading business, education, marketing, and legal experts, deliver a comprehensive program.
Sheree Moratto
Sustainability Director
smoratto@rpba.org
312.529.0952
Are you ready to start, grow or refine your business? Meet Sheree! She coordinates our GROW/PROGRESANDO, manages RPBA’s Help Desk, is an advisor to Illinois SBDC at RPBA and can help you find the resources you need from small business loans to accountants, attorneys, etc.
Contact Us
Want to reach out to our Help Desk?
Feel free to submit your message
Interest Form
Intested in participating in GROW or joining our mailing list? Fill out our interest form & we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
