“Launch Rural Oklahoma” kicks off community conference aiding local businesses

ALTUS, Okla. (KSWO) – “Launch Rural Oklahoma” held a conference in Altus today, one that aimed to help local business owners thrive.

The Conference was targeted towards small business owners across southwest Oklahoma.

Several area groups, from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau to various career tech centers, came together to bring vital resources to the community.

Attendees learned about ways to market their businesses, how to learn from entrepreneurs, and what services state agencies can offer them.

One of the organizers, Economic Development Coordinator Amarie Barte, says they were thrilled to be able to give back to the people working to support Oklahoma’s economy.

“We consider this to be incredibly rewarding work,” Barte said. “Small businesses are the anchor to economic development in rural communities they provide jobs they sponsor youth programs and they create community and so we really believe in the power of small business and we want to help small business owners to have that support in their pocket.”

Launch Rural Oklahoma is also offering a digital avenue and they’ve set up an interactive resource map for business owners who couldn’t make the trip to the conferences.

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