The Community Bringing Business Dreams to Reality

By Michelle DeMarcia Davis

Meet Peter Bour

Peter Bour is a Customer Service Advisor at the Forest Park branch of the CincinnatiHamilton County Public Library and so much more On top of his daily duties, he goes above and beyond helping people who need small business assistance. The Forest Park Branch of the CHCPL listens and responds to our community needs. They started the small business program last fall after hearing from so many customers they are interested in starting a small business and/or non-profit. Their mission is simple: Connecting customers with experts, peers, and resources that enables the customers to bring their dream to reality

A good challenge they face is having enough room and time to help all their amazing customers. Growth has been in the form of enrollment and networking. In just about a year, they have educated one hundred customers, that now know who to ask for help, and who may be viable partners in the journey to small business ownership.

I am grateful my husband and I are a part of that one hundred educated which brings me joy to share this valuable information with the rest of the world. I was even blessed to officially connect with our community heroes for the second time at one of these great classes as they shared their amazing journey to encourage others.

Peter details their program as being a 90 minutes once a month session for three months, in which the sessions are held on Saturdays. Classes will resume on September 9th, 2023. The classes are called “When we explore what it takes to start a non-profit.” Their many talented, capable, and connected partners, include SCORE, ECDI and the Women’s Business Center, Aviatra Accelerators, Cincinnati Compass, APNet, the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, and several small business owners

I am so excited, registered, and ready to attend the September 9th series. I was inspired by their “Turn your side hustle into a business” class I originally thought I would expand my graphic designs and content writing. After digging deeper, I discover it was meant for me to expand into mentoring our youth with L.I.V.E. Live Mentoring.

Peter shares that vision is having an idea that you believe can help customers, and figuring out innovative, effective ways to empower them to achieve their goals Purpose is the reason they do what they do, through useful resources, limitless learning, reliable information, healthy culture, and welcoming spaces. We are so glad Peter and the Forest Park Brand of CHCPL understand vision and use their purpose to make such a big difference while making a positive change.

Peter understands one of the hardest parts of being a small business owner is finding a place to start They enjoy creating the “doorway” to experts and resources for customers, so their investment in libraries generates value in their enterprises. Libraries offer learning, but also space for remote work or, collaboration, computer use, free printing, and low-cost makerspace products. The community is so appreciative of the Forest Park Branch of the CPHCL We look forward to them moving to their new space which will allow them to continue to provide even more resources