ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — St. Louis resident Anthony Taylor received a certificate of completion and $2,000 to grow and scale his tax business last summer thanks to the St. Louis County’s Library (SLCL) Small Business Launchpad program.

The free program is for individuals with previous state or federal convictions to learn how to start and run a business. The participants gain knowledge about writing a business plan, understanding financing and marketing and creating an elevator pitch for potential investors.

“It was dope for them to put it on because most people who are incarcerated, a lot of people don’t want to mess with their population,” Taylor said.

He mentioned the program gave participants everything they needed to succeed.

The St. Louis County Library is accepting applications for its next Small Business Launchpad program through May 31. It will take place Wednesday evenings from July 9 through Aug. 27 at the Clark Family Branch.

Over an eight-week period, participants can develop skills through expert-led presentations and workshops, and part take in networking opportunities. At the end, they can pitch their businesses to judges for a chance at funding.

Eight entrepreneurs earned their certificate of completion during last year’s program. The pitch contest, sponsored by the Clark Family, resulted in Zac Crabtree, founder of Comprehensive Legal Project Solutions, winning $3,000, and Grant Meyer winning $5,000.

Taylor’s pitch to judges earned him the $2,000 cash award to expand Hind Tax Services that he launched two years ago.

He was surprised when he was announced as a winner.

“I was blown away,” Taylor said.

“From eight weeks, it’s a lot of hard work. You’ve got to navigate how you’re going to market it, where people are going to see you, where people are going to learn about you and what makes people want your business.”

Taylor’s business provides tax services straight to individuals where they can save money and worry about being overcharged.

“We crunch the numbers and they count the savings,” he said.

Taylor was in prison for more than seven years for robbery, however, in the 15 years he has been out, he has earned his associate’s degree in business management from Saint Louis Community College, his bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, in addition launching Hind Tax Services and a nonprofit called AMP Connections.

He continues to utilize the library’s variety of resources and will be a speaker during the next Small Business Launchpad program.

“The library is way more advanced than people think,” Taylor said.

“If you really want to help, there are people that will show up, and give you the confidence to be able to move forward. Not only with confidence, they will give you the knowledge.”

For more information about the program, visit SLCL’s website.