Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00pm Location: 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312 Register: Here Turn your dream into a plan with this small group, one-hour business planning class. The Iowa Center staff will help you kickstart your business plan by providing you a road map on completing your plan and taking the next steps towards business ownership. Also connect with other aspiring small business owners to refine your business ideas as you put them into real plans. Click here to register! 

          Presenter: Holmes Murphy + Oscar Health Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00pm Location: Virtual Register: Here This session is led by the employee benefits team at Holmes Murphy, a nationally recognized insurance consulting firm with nearly a century of experience partnering with businesses to promote health, protect wealth, and deliver peace of mind. Joining the conversation will be representatives from Oscar Health, who will share insight into newer healthcare plan options that many business owners may not yet be familiar with. Together, they’ll provide practical, real-world guidance to help you better understand healthcare benefits and confidently take the next step. In this class, you’ll learn: What does employer-sponsored health insurance look like for small businesses? What factors should business owners consider when offering benefits? What role does a benefits broker play in designing and managing a plan? What is ICHRA and how does it work? What healthcare plan options, including newer alternatives, are available to employers today? How can benefits support both business goals and employee well-being? Click here to register! 

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm Location: Virtual Register: Here Elevate is The Iowa Center’s more advanced 5-class series that helps our clients develop growth strategies for their established small businesses. The series is open to clients who received assistance to launch and grow their small businesses and are ready for the next step, as well as existing businesses seeking education and support to strengthen, stabilize and grow. Topics: Types of funding: debt, equity, and hybrid models Navigating loans, grants, angel investors, and venture capital Crafting an effective pitch deck Understanding valuation and term sheets Leveraging crowdfunding and community investment Action Items: Create a pitch deck Click here to register!

          Presenter: The Iowa Center Staff Date: Monday, February 16, 2026 Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Location: Online Register: Here Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or small business owner looking to make a big impact with a limited marketing budget? Look no further than "Marketing for Startups with a Small Budget - A Blueprint for Small Business Marketing." This course is designed to empower you with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively market your startup or small business without breaking the bank. In today's competitive business landscape, creativity and resourcefulness can be your greatest assets, and this course will show you how to leverage them to achieve remarkable marketing results. Throughout this course, you will delve into innovative, cost-effective marketing techniques tailored specifically for startups and small businesses. From crafting a compelling brand story and harnessing the power of social media to mastering guerrilla marketing tactics and optimizing your online presence, you'll gain a comprehensive toolkit for maximizing your marketing efforts on a shoestring budget. Join us on a journey to discover how to reach your target audience, generate leads, and build a loyal customer base, all while managing your resources efficiently. By the end of this course, you'll have a solid blueprint for navigating the world of marketing as a small business, setting you on a path toward sustainable growth and success. Don't let a limited budget hold you back – learn how to market smarter, not harder, and watch your business thrive. Click here to register!