In the fourth quarter of 2010, we hosted or helped out with an amazing run of high-end trainings that wouldn't have been possible without the high-quality partnerships we enjoy. 

In early October, and for the third year, we hosted our Technology Bootcamp.  The buzz coming out of that session was really positive, and participants of that event founded a new group, the Humboldt Internet Marketing Group.  Our partners that made this possible were the SBDC's regional Technology Assistance Program, sponsored by the SBDC Lead Center at HSU, and the Silicon Valley SBDC.

Later in the month, in cooperation with Humboldt State, we hosted a workshop on Small Business Innovation Research grants.  These grants are the exception to the rule: they provide seed capital that you don't have to pay back, as long as you have technology to develop that is of interest to the federal government in some way.  The best news to me from this session was that a number of businesses in the room could be competitive applicants for these substantial grants.

In November, the world-class design firm IDEO was in town.  This was a project of the County of Humboldt with which we helped.  SBDC BizNet Manager Sandy Neal was also among 20 people chosen to participate in the program.  He is now busily working on IDEO-influenced prototypes and ideas.  Our unique role is to institutionalize this and to find ways to use the methods in our workshops and in our 1 on 1 work with clients.

The County also took the lead in putting on a direct to consumer marketing conference, or D2CM, and the reviews are that this one of the best things we've done around here in a long time.  D2CM has to do with selling products directly through catalogs and the web, how those go together, branding, etc.  The County brought in four experts and, by tapping our colleague SBDC centers in Napa and Silicon Valley, we added two. 

There are two more common threads.  The Headwaters Fund had a role in partially funding three of the four trainings (not IDEO, which was all federal, but the rest).  We made a point of having one or more of our staff and contractors in each of these trainings, because in all cases we want to learn and develop our ability to be helpful locally.

And that's not all.  Two of our flights, the Eel River Valley Individual Development Account Flight, in partnership with AEDC and the Consumer Credit Counseling folks from Arcata, and our new Child Care Provider Flight in partnership with First 5 Del Norte, both wouldn't happen...or wouldn't happen nearly as well, without these active partnerships.

Lively, ongoing partnerships are such a way of doing business here that we sometimes might take them for granted.  So, to all of our friends, clients, supports and partners, thanks!  And Happy New Year!

All the best,

Michael Kraft

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Dana Hunt joined the Board in November.  She has worked in the accounting field since 1973 performing bookkeeping, accounting, and tax work for clients, and her firm, Anderson, Lucas, Somerville and Borges.   She is involved in many nonprofit organizations, including serving as President of the Redwood Memorial Foundation.  She is also active in both the county and the state cattlewomen's associations.  Dana is from a ranching family that has active operations in Arcata, Bridgeville and Cloverdale.

Nick Canton is the AmeriCorps VISTA at the North Coast SBDC.  His focus is on Youth Entrepreneurship under the Decade of Difference initiative.  He will also be working on Community Development Block Grant flight programs in Eureka and expanding them in Del Norte County.  Nick graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he studied Economics and Psychology.  He has work experience with microeconomic and macroeconomic forecasting and marketing.
 

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While many people are in private communication about problems, they might not always know where to go for assistance.  

Business owners could benefit from financial analysis, cost structure analysis, marketing strategies, or operational analysis, for example.  These are all examples of services that we provide to people who run businesses in Humboldt County.

And, we are aware that even with a relatively healthy business, layoffs might have to happen.  Business owners will benefit from learning about Rapid Response Services in advance of layoffs or a closure.  We design a customized implementation plan that minimizes the stress and problems that can be associated with a layoff event.  We also find that the employees work through the desired date because layoff information is given to them in a positive manner.  Along with our partners at the Job Market, Rapid Response Services also provides information about current regulatory requirements.

Business owners may be inclined to deal with the issues quietly or swiftly.  But studies show that more support early on in addressing a problem is the best way to take corrective action that can make a real difference.

If you know someone that would benefit from these services, I encourage you to be in communication with us and them about the services that are available.  Rapid Response Manager Sandy Neal can be reached via phone at 707-445-9035 or email Neal@NorthCoastSBDC.org to discuss these services or with any questions.

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