State Sen. Arthur Orr will be one of the speakers at the “Need Money?” workshop at Women’s Business Center of North Alabama from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on April 13. (CONTRIBUTED)

HUNTSVILLE – Women’s Business Center of North Alabama (WBCNA) has two workshop sessions on its April calendar.

The “Need Money?” workshop will introduce small business owners to four financing options and will be held at the center’s Huntsville office at 515 Sparkman Drive from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on April 13.

State Sen. Arthur Orr will explain ‘crowd-funding,’ a less traditional method of financing. In 2014, Orr sponsored a crowd-funding bill that was signed into law allowing small businesses to raise up to $1 million toward starting their business.

“Now that the new laws are in place, a large number of businesses are using this method to obtain funding,” WBCNA program director Erin Bloxham Curtis said. “We’re including this innovative method to ensure small business owners know all possible avenues for funding.”

“Need Money?” participants also will hear about traditional financing options from banks, Small Business Administration and Revolving Loan Funds. Redstone Federal Credit Union employees will discuss traditional loan options.

Fee is $25 in advance or $35 at the event. Scholarships are available to qualified clients. For more information, visit wbcna.org/calendar.

Another session, “Boots to Business” on Redstone Arsenal on April 14-15 is a ‘boot camp’ coordinated by Small Business Administration as a component of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The free course introduces transitioning military members and families to tools for developing a successful business plan.

“According to the Small Business Administration, veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans,” WBCNA President and CEO Joanne Randolph said. “Over 250,000 service members transition from military service to civilian life each year.”

For more information, call Betty Anderson at 256-842-2719 or email to betty.d.anderson.civ@mail.mil. To register, visit wbcna.org/calendar.

The Women’s Business Center of North Alabama is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to help women and men start a new business or to grow an existing one.