TopSBDC 25 Years

North Coast SBDC August 2010 Newsletter
In This Issue
Workshops offered in remote locations
Industry Cluster Planning
QuickBooks training Fall 2010
Farmer/Rancher program
Funding innovative technology
Congratulations FilmHumboldt
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August 2, 2010

Hello,
Looking back at the last month, the Summer 2010 QuickBooks training in July went well, SBDC Grant Manager Tazsa Hartwell has just submitted a sizable grant application, and a few new flights have started (for more info see our web page). 

Mike Thompson visited our office for a discussion about local economic indicators, and we had a group of participants complete the Business Basics workshops in Smith River.  Thanks to Darrell Moorehead of the Smith River Rancheria and Barbara Burke, SBDC Business Advisor in Del Norte County, for making that happen.

We also have a lot coming up in the next few months to share with you.  Business Basics workshops are going to be in Redway and Willow Creek, another QuickBooks training on September 23, and October appears to be shaping up as technology month here at the SBDC with two excellent training opportunities (Tech Bootcamp and SBIR training) and our quarterly workshop on web essentials. 

In addition, Humboldt County is conducting planning meetings for three industry clusters, and AEDC and the UC Cooperative Extension are partnering up to provide the Prosperity Scholarship program for farmers and ranchers.  We're also partnering up with AEDC to bring the Prosperity Scholarship flight model to Del Norte County in the near future, but will have more information on that available at a later date.
Workshops

Business Basics Series
offered in Southern and Eastern Humboldt



Redway
September 9 - October 7
Thursdays from 4:00-6:00PM
Healy Senior Center, 456 Briceland Road
Register online at: www.northcoastsbdc.org/redway_workshops
Email: south@northcoastsbdc.org

Willow Creek
August 31 - September 28
Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00PM
Willow Creek Community Services Dist., 135 Willow Road
Register online at:
www.northcoastsbdc.org/willow creek_workshops
Email: east@northcoastsbdc.org

Contact us by phone: 1-800-697-SBDC (toll free) or 707-445-9720


Save the date... October 6

Technology Boot Camp
TechBootcamp
The 2010 Technology Boot Camp is a full-day workshop for non-technical small business entrepreneurs to learn about all aspects of using online applications in their business.


Essentials of Business Web Sites

This workshop is designed to help the novice understand the basic considerations and technologies related to launching and using a web site.  Register at http://northcoastsbdc.org/node/4782 or call 707-445-9720.

Events


Humboldt County Industry Cluster
Action Planning

These series of meetings are intended to identify strengths within the key industries, assess specialized resources, and pinpoint assistance that policymakers can provide to ease the challenges we face in economic, business, and community development.

The organizers welcome people to participate in the forward-thinking, business-minded sessions.

There are three industry clusters that will be discussed. For each cluster it is requested that participants attend all three meetings, listed below.

Management & Innovation Services
August 3, August 17, and August 31
7:00-10:00 AM at the Humboldt Area Foundation
Contact: Gregg Foster, 707-445-9651

Specialty Agriculture, Food, and Beverage

August 4, August 18, and September 8
4:30-8:00 PM at the Humboldt Area Foundation
Contact: Angeline Schwab, 707-476-4813

Building and Construction

August 10, August 24, and September 7
4:00-7:00 PM at the PlanIt Green office
Contact: Jackie Dyer, 707-476-4804

All meetings include a meal.


RSVP by calling 707-476-4808
 or email salcaraz@co.humboldt.ca.us



industry cluster action planning image

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QuickBooks Boot Camp for Beginners

Thursday, September 23
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
CR Downtown

quickbooks logo

Information and registration is available at www.northcoastsbdc.org/events2
  or by calling our office at 707-445-9720.



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Grants & Programs

Farmer/Rancher IDA Program
Now Accepting Applications
FarmerIDA


The program follows AEDC's Prosperity Scholarship model, which is a matched savings program designed to help you save for and purchase a farm asset to enhance your sustainability.

Participants open a special savings account (IDAs) and save each month. At the end of the 18 month program, your savings  is matched with grant funds, 2 to 1 -- $2 for every $1 saved, giving each participant a total of up to $5400 which may be used for capitalizing a small farm business in Humboldt County.  Participants may purchase:
  • farmer with sprout in handEquipment such as tractors, implements, value added equipment
  • Land down-payment
  • Other approved business assets in your business plan
The program is presented by the University of California Cooperative Extension, California FarmLink, and Arcata Economic Development Corporation, with the North Coast SBDC providing the business basics workshops and access to one-on-one counseling.

Income qualification is part of the application process.

For more information please contact:
Deborah Giraud, Farm Advisor at 707-445-7351, or
Susan Seaman, AEDC Program Coordinator at 707-822-4616

Applications are available at
http://cehumboldt.ucdavis.edu/plant_Science/


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News


Secrets of Writing Winning SBIR ProposalsSBIR

The Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program is the federal government's largest R&D grants/contract program targeted to the small business community. With over $2.5 billion available annually, it is arguably the best source of risk capital available to help fund the development of promising new technologies. SBIR/STTR can also serve as a pathway to equity financing.  STTR offers an opportunity for university faculty and researchers to participate in these programs.

This workshop will be delivered by Roger S. Cohen, Principal of Cohen International, a government contracting consultant and international business development firm. Roger coaches entrepreneurs through the SBIR/STTR proposal development process and helps write, review and critique draft proposals.  More information about the presented is available at http://www.rogercohen.com/sbir

The workshop will provide the opportunity to learn about the SBIR and the STTR programs, and how to prepare a winning SBIR or STTR proposal.  A limited number of private counseling appointments with Roger Cohen will be available to workshop attendees.

The workshop is scheduled for October 20 at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center and the private counseling appointments will be held on October 21.  More information will be available on our web page and in future newsletters as the date gets closer.

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10th Annual GovLink Conference

Linking You to Government Opportunities!

Hosted by The Federal Technology Center and
Defense Microelectronics Activity.

October 26-27, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento.

This highly-packed conference provides networking opportunities between more than 350 attendees and 50 exhibitors from government agencies, prime contractors, and small businesses.

Early registration ends September 10, 2010. 
Register now as an attendee or an exhibitor!
Last year, exhibit spaces sold out!

For more information,  go to www.TheFTC.org/govlink.

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People                 

Business Leaders will gather in Crescent City
to discuss Del Norte County


Arcata Economic Development Corporation's Business Leader Luncheon is an event for commercial business lenders and community leaders interested in economic and business development. 

On the agenda are an explanation of AEDC's lending services that fill gaps in business lending needs in Del Norte County, a presentation by one of AEDC's Del Norte borrowers, and a presentation by the North Coast SBDC about the new Del Norte Prosperity IDA Scholarship starting in early Fall.

The luncheon will be held on August 25 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.  People who are interested in the event can call Susan at AEDC, 822-4616 ext. 12.


Congratulations to FilmHumboldt

Congratulations to FilmHumboldt, Humboldt County's film and digital media commission.  After being under the umbrella of the North Coast Small Business Resource Center (the host of the SBDC) for the previous 2 ½ years, FilmHumboldt is now its own 501c3 nonprofit organization. Please join us in wishing the organization success.  We look forward to continuing a strong partnership.





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Stat for this month.

The average hourly wage in California in the 1st quarter of 2010 was $23.42.


Source: EDD Quick Statistics
Thanks for subscribing to our newsletter.  I often share links and information on Facebook and Twitter as well as our web site.  I always welcome notification of news and related information, too!

Kathrine Bridgwater head shot     Sincerely, 


     Kathrine Bridgwater
     Small Business Development Analyst



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