MCITy

Entrepreneur Bootcamp - Class 5
2026-07-07 17:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | 263
This session focuses on a common startup mistake: not seeking help early enough. Participants are introduced to key professional partners needed to build a strong business foundation.
A legal professional covers business formation and structure, including LLC setup, operating agreements, annual reporting requirements, and the importance of legal support for contracts, non-competes, and intellectual property.
An accountant discusses how proper accounting practices improve financial clarity, ensure compliance, and support better decision-making, including guidance on taxes and setting up a chart of accounts.
By the end of the session, participants understand the essential roles of legal and financial partners and how these relationships help reduce risk and support long-term business success.

Entrepreneur Bootcamp Class 4
2026-06-30 17:30 - 20:30 | 263
This session focuses on one of the most common and costly startup mistakes: overspending. Participants learn how businesses generate revenue, what it takes to operate, and the financial tools needed to understand profitability.
Guest speakers cover key funding and capital access options, including a banker discussing SBA loan programs and lender expectations, a representative sharing microloan opportunities, a presenter outlining SBIR and STTR funding programs, and investors or capital partners providing insight into funding readiness.
Participants are also introduced to core financial concepts such as fixed vs. variable costs, direct vs. indirect costs, and economies of scale, along with real-world factors that impact profitability like seasonality, growth, emergencies, and reinvestment needs.
The session includes an overview of essential financial documents, including statements of financial need, projected financials, expense and amortization schedules, 24-month cash flow projections, sensitivity analysis, break-even analysis, and balance sheets.
The hands-on activity requires participants to create a draft monthly budget using estimated costs, followed by homework to refine it with real data gathered through research and vendor outreach.

Scaling Up: Digital Marketing Blueprint for Growth - Class 5
2026-06-26 08:00 - 09:30 | Room 263
Class 5: Stop Boosting. Start Advertising — Organic vs Paid Social
Understanding the difference between organic social media and paid advertising is critical for modern business growth.
This session will break down when organic content works, when paid ads are necessary, and how to properly set up and manage Meta advertising for better results. Participants will gain clarity on how to move beyond boosting posts and begin running strategic, targeted campaigns that support long-term business growth.
Participants will learn:

Organic Social vs Paid Social fundamentals

Meta setup basics

Budgeting and targeting strategies

How to align paid ads with your overall marketing funnel

This is Class 5 of a 10-part series designed to help you build a comprehensive, full-funnel marketing strategy focused on measurable results and sustainable growth. This is a hands-on session taught by Chase Parker, Marketing Consultant with LocaliQ.
Smart businesses don’t just boost posts — they advertise strategically.

RSVP: https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=msvick&evtid=26405&class=E

Chamber members: FREENon-members: $35

Sponsored by: Vicksburg Warren Chamber of Commerce, LocaliQ, Riverwalk Casino

Entrepreneur Bootcamp Class 3
2026-06-23 17:30 - 20:30 | 224
This session focuses on one of the most common challenges for new businesses: effectively executing sales and marketing. Participants explore how to build strong customer relationships and the channels used to reach, serve, and retain customers.
A guest speaker leads a discussion on customer relationships, sales strategy, and marketing channels, including practical low-cost and no-cost tools entrepreneurs can use to attract and grow their customer base.
Participants then complete a hands-on activity to identify the most effective relationship-building strategies and communication channels for their own business idea.

Entrepreneur Bootcamp - Class 2
2026-06-16 17:30 - 20:30 | 263
This session continues customer discovery with a focus on customer segmentation and identifying competition. Participants define their target customer and assess whether a viable market exists for their product or service.
A guest speaker introduces demographic, psychographic, and behavioral segmentation to help participants better understand and refine their audience.
The session also reviews market and industry data from the Mississippi Secretary of State and other partners, including local demographics, buying habits, market potential, NAICS industry data, and competitor insights. This information helps participants evaluate demand, understand competition, and determine whether their idea meets a real market need.

Vicksburg Entrepreneur Bootcamp
2026-06-09 17:30 - 20:30 | 263
The first class of the Vicksburg Entrepreneur Bootcamp introduces participants to the program, the Business Model Canvas, and the Business Plan Competition while providing an overview of key business fundamentals. Local city and county officials welcome the cohort and emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship to the local economy.
Participants explore common startup mistakes and engage in the important go/no-go conversation to realistically evaluate their business ideas, market demand, and long-term potential. The class also introduces Customer Discovery concepts from The Mom Test, teaching participants how to gather honest customer feedback and better understand their target audience.
Hands-on activities include sharing business ideas, identifying NAICS codes, and developing customer discovery questions for review.

Scaling Up: Digital Marketing Blueprint for Growth - Class 4
2026-05-08 08:00 - 09:30 | Room 263
Class 4: Content Marketing — Who Am I? What Do I Post?
Your brand has a voice — but are you using it effectively?
In this session, participants will explore how to develop a clear content strategy that strengthens brand identity and drives engagement. From choosing the right platforms to creating meaningful, relevant posts, this class will provide practical tools to help businesses communicate with confidence and consistency.
Participants will learn how to:

Define and refine their brand voice

Determine what content resonates with their audience

Choose where to post for maximum impact

Turn content into customers through intentional strategy

This is Class 4 of a 10-part series designed to help you build a comprehensive, full-funnel marketing strategy focused on measurable growth and long-term success. This is a hands-on session taught by Chase Parker, Marketing Consultant with LocaliQ.
It’s time to stop posting randomly — and start posting with purpose.
RSVP: https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=msvick&evtid=26400&class=E
Chamber members: FREENon-members: $35
Sponsored by: Vicksburg Warren Chamber of Commerce, LocaliQ, and Riverwalk Casino

ERDC Workshop - Other Government
2026-05-05 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-15 08:30 - 2026-04-16 17:00 | Room 320

ERDC Workshop - Industry & Government
2026-04-29 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-04-27 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-14 08:30 - 16:30 | Room 320

Setting Employees Up for Success by Negotiating Expectations
2026-04-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Room 263
Join Katharine Halpin of Halpin Companies as she helps leaders get the right people in the right roles, focused on the right priorities, and will guide participants in Setting Your People Up for Success by Negotiating Expectations.
In this session, participants will learn how to:

Negotiate expectations–even if you’re not the decision maker

Determine the best time and approach to negotiate expectations so everyone is set up for success

Communicate in ways that validate concerns and prepare the team to move forward together

Why this matters: The Harris Poll reports that U.S. businesses lose $1.2 trillion each year due to miscommunication between employees and leaders–roughly $12,500 per employee. Learning to engage and align your team effectively can have a measurable impact on productivity and your bottom line. (Businesswire, 2022)
Participants will also receive Katharine’s book: Alignment for Success: Bringing Out the Best in Yourself, Your Teams, and Your Company to reinforce the concepts and continue learning beyond the classroom.

Cost: $35 for members and $45 for non-Chamber members (includes lunch and book)

Leave this session with actionable strategies to consistently engage your team, reduce misunderstandings, and drive results.

ERDC Meeting - Academia
2026-04-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Room 320

ERDC Session - Industry & Government
2026-04-22 11:00 - 13:30 | Room 320

Scaling up: Digital Marketing Blueprint for Growth - Class 3
2026-04-17 08:00 - 09:30 | Room 263
Class 3: How People Find Your Business — SEO, Listings & AI Search (GEO) Essentials
AI is transforming how consumers search for and discover businesses. Traditional SEO alone is no longer enough.
This session will explore how search behavior is evolving and what your business must do to stay visible in both traditional and AI-driven search environments.
Participants will learn how to:

Strengthen their organic search presence

Optimize business listings across platforms

Adapt to AI-powered search tools

Position their business to be discovered when customers are ready to buy

This is Class 3 of a 10-part series designed to help you build a comprehensive, full-funnel marketing strategy focused on measurable results and long-term growth. This is a hands-on session taught by Chase Parker, Marketing Consultant with LocaliQ.
If your customers are searching differently, your strategy must evolve with them.
RSVP: https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=msvick&evtid=26395&class=E
Chamber members: FREENon-members: $35
Sponsored by: Vicksburg – Warren Chamber of Commerce, LocaliQ, and Riverwalk Casino

ERDC Event - Industry
2026-04-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Room 323

Stop the Miscommunication: Unlock Your Team's Communication
2026-03-31 11:00 - 13:00 | MCITy – Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology, 1622 Washington St, Room 263, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA
Join Brandon Davis of Binnacle Education Group for an engaging, high-impact Leadership Workshop. Discover your team’s natural strengths, communication styles, and how to work more effectively together using the powerful DISC Inventory assessment.
Why does communication matter?
Miscommunication can cost about $12,500 per employee per year: Employees may lose the equivalent of nearly a full workday (about 7.47 hours) each week due to poor communication, translating to over $12,000 in lost productivity per employee annually*.
Improving communication isn’t just good leadership — it directly impacts your bottom line.
Bring your team and take the DISC assessment to:
• Improve collaboration and team dynamics• Enhance communication and leadership effectiveness• Increase productivity and alignment
This session is ideal for:
• Business owners and executives• Team leaders and managers• Organizational teams• HR professionals• Anyone who wants to better understand themselves and their colleagues
Strengthen your team, reduce costly misunderstandings, and walk away with practical tools you can use immediately.
Cost: $35 for members and $45 for non-Chamber members (includes lunch and assessment)
*Source: Grammarly & The Harris Poll, The State of Business Communication, reported via Business Wire (2022).

ERDC Workshop - ERDC Only
2026-03-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Room 320

Startup Showcase
2026-03-27 12:00 - 13:00
Each month, startup teams gather to share their progress through the Million Dollar Checklist program. They will talk about their business development journeys, the ups and downs and lessons learned. Open to the public. Anyone can attend. RSVP to tasha.bibb@msstate.edu

Scaling Up: Digital Marketing Blueprint for Growth - Class 2
2026-03-20 08:00 - 09:30 | Room 263
Class 2: First Impressions & Reputations — How Google Business Profiles, Reviews & Websites Drive Sales
First impressions matter — and in today’s marketplace, they happen online.
When potential customers search for your business, what they see determines whether they click, call, or move on.
In this practical, strategy-focused session, participants will learn how to:

Optimize their Google Business Profile to increase local search visibility

Effectively manage and leverage reviews to build credibility

Improve website performance to convert traffic into sales

Align their digital presence with their broader marketing strategy

This is Class 2 of a 10-part series designed to help businesses build a comprehensive, full-funnel marketing strategy focused on real, measurable growth. This is a hands-on session taught by Chase Parker, Marketing Consultant with LocaliQ.
Strong visibility builds trust. Trust drives sales.
Join us and make sure your first impression counts.
RSVP: https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=msvick&evtid=26390&class=E
Chamber members: FREENon-members: $35
Sponsored by: Vicksburg Warren Chamber of Commerce, LocaliQ and Riverwalk Casino
