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Western Dairyland Business Center
July 2009 Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Western Dairyland is holding a Youth Business Plan Contest. Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are invited to paraticipate in the contest by submitting their business plan. The winner will receive up to $500 toward their business startup supplies.
The Western Dairyland Business Center is offering "Using QuickBooks in Your Business." QuickBooks, the popular Bookkeeping software, makes it easier and faster to do tasks like invoicing, payroll, and cash-flow projections.
July Events and Deadlines (details below)
07.09.09 T.E.A.M. Women's Business Network Meeting, Western Dairyland, Eau Claire
07.09.09 Jackson/Buffalo/Trempealeau County Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club, Black River Falls
07.20.09 Using QuickBooks in Your Business, session 1 of 3 classes in the series, 1-3 pm, Eau Claire
07.23.09 Business Basics 101, 6-9pm Black River Falls
For more information on any of these events and more, continue reading below or feel free to contact me directly at kbriggs@westerndairyland.org.
Sincerely,
Karman Briggs
Business Center Manager |
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 Youth Business Plan Contest
Eligibility:
· Applicant must be 12 - 17 years old. · Applicant must be a resident of Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau or Jackson County · Applicant must be starting or have started a business between October 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010 of which he or she is the owner and manager.
To Apply:
Each applicant must submit a business plan with an application form and release of information by the close of business on July 31, 2009 to the Western Dairyland Business Center, 418 Wisconsin St, Eau Claire WI 54703. Application materials may be downloaded from www.SuccessfulBusiness.org/youth. Business plans may be written with the assistance of a business development specialist, but may not exceed ten pages. To seek the assistance of a business development specialist or to ask questions about the Western Dairyland Youth Business Plan Contest, contact (715) 836-7511 ext. 174. The 2009 Youth Entrepreneurship Day Camp, sponsored by the Western Dairyland Business Center, will introduce teens to the world of business and assist them as they turn their business ideas into business plans. Teens between 13 and 17 are eligible.
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Business Basics 101
Businesses do not plan to fail, they just fail to plan. In the Business Basics 101 class, you will learn the basic steps in building a successful business. Topics covered are: feasibility, proving your market, funding your business, writing a business plan, marketing, business legal structure, and more. Don't miss this essential overview of what is necessary to properly plan and start your business. This month's Business Basics 101 class will be July 23 at the Chamber of Commerce, 120 N Water St, Black River Falls, WI, 6-9pm.
If you attend this event you can apply for FREE, one-on-one assistance from Western Dairyland's Business Development Specialists to determine the feasibility of your business idea and identify sources to prove your market. Business Development Specialists may also help with the preparation of business plans and financial forecasts which could be presented to lenders.
Tuition is $10 which includes a meal and all class materials. Registration deadline is July 21. For more information or to register, go to http://www.successfulbusiness.org/eventschedule/ or call 715/836-7511, ext. 171. Arrangements for persons with special needs will be made if requested two weeks in advance.
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T.E.A.M. - Women's Business Networking Meetings
The Teaching, Education And Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) Women's Business Network Meeting on July 9 will feature a special presentation by Toni Hudzina of Applied Interfaces.
" LinkedIn and Twitter and FaceBook - Oh My!
Social Networking for Small Business"
Meetings take place Noon-1pm at Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire. Feel free to bring your lunch and business cards to share!
This month's guest speaker is Toni Hudzina of Applied Interfaces. With over twelve years of experience in web site development, Hudzina is an expert in web site usability and accessibility. Hudzina has worked on web sites for non-profit associations, the federal government, health care agencies, and various industries in the private sector.
T.E.A.M meetings take place the 2nd Thursday of each month from noon to 1pm. For more information about the Women's Business Network, get in touch with Karman at kbriggs@westerndairyland.org or (715) 836-7511 x 174.
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The next I&E Club meeting is Thursday, July 9 at the Black River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at 120 N. Water St., Black River Falls. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30pm.
Open counseling sessions are available prior to each meeting. Contact Jackie at 715-836-7511 ext. 171 to schedule an appointment.
Meetings are FREE to attend and open to anyone in Western Wisconsin who would like to learn from experienced professionals and discuss their ideas with other local inventors and entrepreneurs.
Connect to other Inventors and Entrepreneurs like you at LinkedIn. Click HERE
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Using QuickBooks in Your Business
QuickBooks is the most widely used accounting software among small business owners, and this summer Western Dairyland will offer hands-on training in this popular and useful program. By the end of the training, attendees will have set up an individualized company file for their company which they will be able to import to their own business computer system.
Laptops will be provided, but each attendee must either bring a flashdrive, or borrow one ($20 deposit required) to transfer the file they have created to their own computer system. In addition, each attendee must bring to the first session at least three business cards for vendors and three for customers to be used in setting up their QuickBooks company file.
There are two more opportunities to learn QuickBooks, the July series and a one-day intensive in September. Dates are:
July 20, 27 and Aug. 3, 1-3 pm Monday
One day intensive--September 12, 9 am - 4 pm Saturday
Tuition is $149; scholarships are available for income-eligible individuals. All trainings will be held at Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire. Classes are limited to 15. There are three easy ways to register: on-line at http://www.successfulbusiness.org/eventschedule/ , by telephone at (715) 836-7511 ext. 171, or in person at the Western Dairyland office in Eau Claire. Registration and payment for the July series must be received by Friday, July 17th. Arrangements for persons with special needs will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. |
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 Wisconsin Common Market
Wisconsin Common Market welcomes Alma Leather to the site. Located in Alma, Wisconsin, Alma Leather offers leather bags, accessories and clothing - both in stock and custom made articles.
To learn more more about Alma Leather, visit the website at:
http://www.wisconsincommonmarket.com/almaleather/ |
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News and Events
Distance Education and Counseling Tools for Service Providers
Western Dairyland will be providing a free two-day event July 29 & 30 in Eau Claire for economic development professionals and service providers interested in learning how to harness the power of distance education tools to train and cousel clients remotely. For more information, contact Jackie at 715-836-7511 ext 171 or jbdassist@westerndairyland.org.
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Wisconsin Minority Business Awards - Apply Now!
There are three award categories: Outstanding Minority Business (two awards based on business size to honor successful companies); Rising Star (honoring an emerging company that shows innovation and promise); and Good Citizen (honoring a company that gives back to society). Nominations will be accepted through July 12. Nominees will be asked to complete an application from now until August 1. On-line application available at http://marketplace.wi.gov/home.html
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Market your childcare safely, effectively and inexpensively
In this hands-on computer session, learn how to market your childcare safely, effectively and inexpensively through traditional and non-traditional marketing methods. We will explore social media and other online advertising avenues such as Face Book and Craig's List, as well as spend time to develop an appealing flyer in Microsoft Publisher. Attendees will be able to save their completed flyers to CD to take home.
Presenter: Karman Briggs, Business Center Manager, Western Dairyland Community Action Agency
WHEN: Wednesday, JULY 22, 2009, 6:30-8:30
WHERE: Western Dairyland Building, 418 Wisconsin St, Eau Claire, Computer Lab/Basement
Space is limited, please call Julie Brunner, 839-1201 or Carla Sumner, 839-6923, Eau Claire County Childcare coordinators to sign up.
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Selling to the Government and Other Prime Contractors--August 5 & 6, Camp Douglas
The Western Dairyland Business Center is co-sponsoring the 3rd Annual State-Wide Conference, "Contracting with Government and Prime Contractors," at Volk Field in Camp Douglas on Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday, August 6, 2009. Businesses interested in learning how to sell directly to federal and state government agencies or how to subcontract to prime contractors are invited to attend. Small, Minority, Native American, Woman, Service Disabled Veteran and Veteran Owned Businesses are especially encouraged to attend. For more information, download the flyer and registration form at: http://www.successfulbusiness.org/pdf/2009GovConf.pdf or register online at http://www.wispro.org/eventdetail.asp?ID=109.
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"Regenerating for Generations to Come" Synergy Conference 2009, September 16-17, 2009, WITC Conference Center, Rice Lake
Reserve the dates on your calendar today. For more infomation visit:
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Ideas to Profits Conference -- October 1-2, 2009, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells
More than 18 experts speaking on IP licensing, innovation, global business entry, government funding, search engine optimization, Wisconsin Angel network, contract engineering, rapid prototyping, social networks, marketing/public relations, how to launch new product/idea and many more helpful and informative topics! Registration fee only $99
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2nd Annual Juried Inventors' Showcase & Competition, October 1, 2009
This competition is held in conjunction with the 2009 Ideas to Profits Conference and is sponsored by the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center. $50 entry fee. Deadline to enter is August 3, 2009.
For more information go to:
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Business Resources
ARC--New SBA Loan Program for Debt Relief will provide interest free loans of up to $35,000 to small businesses for the purpose of making principal and interest payments on existing, qualifying small business loans for up to six months. The loans will be provided by commercial lenders, will not require collateral, and will be 100% guaranteed by the SBA. Loan proceeds are provided over a six-month period and repayment is deferred for 12 months after the last disbursement. ARC loans will be offered for as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first. For more details, see http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html
Funding is limited, and loans should be available in mid-June. To qualify, businesses must be able to show cash flow projections to prove the viability of the business and its ability to repay the loan. The Western Dairyland Business Center can assist with cash-flow projections. Contact us by email jbdassist@westerndairyland.org or phone at (715) 836-7511 ext. 171. SheFinds Promotes Independent Women Designers in partnership with Count Me In, a leading online provider of business loans and resources for women entrepreneurs. During the month of September, 2009 SheFinds will run a promotion with Count Me In to raise money for the organization and help boutique designers get the word out about their designs. SheFinds will feature original designs that feature the Count Me In logo, motto, or colors. See the SheFinds website for more details http://www.shefinds.com/blog/index.php/others/category/count_me_in
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Partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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