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Upcoming Western Dairyland Events
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Women's Business Networking Meeting - April 14
Pre-Conference Networking Event - April 20
Women's Business Conference - April 21
Seven Steps to Building a Successful Business - April 28
Mobile Sites Course - May 3
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Community Events | |
Green Business Event Expo - April 14
Growth Strategies and Government Contracting - April 21
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Sponsors
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Partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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Women's Business Conference - April 21
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Join us for the 8th Annual Women's Business Conference in Eau Claire, WI on April 21, 2011. All conference attendees will also have free access to "Growth Strategies and Government Contracting," a full-day seminar adjacent to the Women's Business Conference on April 21.
Registration information and conference details can be found at http://www.womensbusinessconference.com. Both online and mail-in registration forms are available.
The 2011 Women's Business Conference will take place at the Plaza Hotel & Suites in Eau Claire, WI. At this full-day conference, you'll learn from established members of the business community in Western Wisconsin, talk to business assistance providers, and network with hundreds of emerging entrepreneurs.
Nearly 100 businesses will be on hand to display their services and products in the exhibitor hall. Sixteen educational sessions and roundtables will cover a wide range of topics, and one-on-one counseling is available to discuss your specific business questions.
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| New SBA Program for Women-Owned Small Businesses | The Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program provides equal access to federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses (WOSB) and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs). The program allows contracting officers to set aside specific federal contracts for certified WOSBs and EDWOSBs.
The WOSB Program became effective in SBA's regulations on February 4, 2011. Over the next few months, the SBA will hold a number of training and outreach events to help small businesses understand the program and its requirements, as well as provide detailed information and instructions on the SBA website. The WOSB rule in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), is now going through the final review, and is expected to be issued by April. The goal is for WOSBs and EDWOSBs to be ready to compete for contracts awarded in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, which is when the largest percent of small business contracts are awarded.
To be an eligible WOSB, a company must be:
· A small business that is at least 51% percent unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are United States citizens.
· A woman must manage the day-to-day operations, make long-term decisions for the business, hold the highest officer position in the business and work at the business full-time during normal working hours.
To be an eligible EDWOSB, a company must:
· Meet the requirements to be a WOSB
· Meet the definition of economically disadvantaged: a personal net worth of less than $750,000 (with some exclusions), an adjusted gross yearly income averaged over the three years preceding the certification less than $350,000, and the fair market value of all assets is less than $6 million.
All recognized WOSBs and EDWOSBs must register their status in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA),as well as upload required documents to the WOSB Program Repository. CCR and ORCA are currently being updated to allow WOSBs and EDWOSBs to register and are expected to be ready in April 2011.
For more information, read the SBA press release or visit the SBA website.
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Women's Business Networking Meeting on April 14 in Eau Claire
| The Western Dairyland Business Center and Women's Business Center will host a Women's Business Network meeting on "Planned, Purposeful and Productive Networking for Your Small Business." with guest speaker Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, owner of Feather Communications, on Thursday, April 14th. The meeting will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Western Dairyland Community Action Agency, 418 Wisconsin Street, Eau Claire.
In preparation for the 2011 Women's Business Conference, Heather will be sharing how to have planned, purposeful, and productive networking. Meeting the potential clients, colleagues and advisors who will propel your business forward is not accident. In this interactive workshop, you will learn and practice skills that will allow you to plan ahead and purposefully place yourself in situations where business can follow. Individuals interested in attending the 8th Annual Women's Business Conference on April 21, 2011 are especially encouraged to attend and will be given a $10 discount off regular attendee registration fees to be redeemed the same day.
Women's Business Network meetings are open to the public and take place over the lunch hour on the second Thursday of each month. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bag lunches and plenty of business cards. The goals of the meeting are to facilitate networking relationships among women business owners and allowing them to expand their small business knowledge. The structure of the meetings will allow participants to learn from an expert in the field and from each other's shared experiences.
For more information call (715) 836-7511 ext. 171 or visit www.SuccesssfulBusiness.org.
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| | "Seven Steps to Starting a Successful Business" Course to Be Held in Eau Claire April 28th | Entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners are invited to attend The 7 Steps to Starting a Business on Thursday, April 28. The class will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Western Dairyland Community Action Agency, 418 Wisconsin Street, Eau Claire. Tuition is $25 for individuals and class materials are included. Scholarships are available for income-eligible individuals.
This training session teaches participants how to start a business by assembling the pieces of a business plan. Topics covered include feasibility, proving your market, funding your business, writing a business plan, marketing, business legal structure and more.
There are three easy ways to register and pay for the class: online at www.SuccessfulBusiness.org, by phone at 715-836-7511 ext. 171, or in person at the Western Dairyland office in Eau Claire. Because space is limited, pre-registration and payment is required by April 25.
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| | Green Business Expo Event
| | Downtown Eau Claire's Green Business Expo Event is April 14th at the State Theater. The event will showcase green products, services, fashions, and trends. The Expo will be held from 5-7:30 pm with an Eco Chic Fashion Show at 6:30 pm.
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| Featured Success Story |
Erin O'Brien, owner of Erin Designs, is a lifetime Girl Scouts  member and lives by the motto, "Leave it better than you found it." With over thirty years of experience in the interior design field, O'Brien has an in-depth knowledge of current building practices and materials that are green, sustainable, and beautiful. O'Brien's commitment to understanding the environmental impact of her designs takes priority in her design development. She primarily advocates the simple common sense changes. By incorporating green practices, she helps her clients create safe, healthy, and beautiful places to live and work.
O'Brien smoothly incorporates her passion for the environment with her commitment to her clients. Her goal is to give her clients the information they need to make an informed choice. O'Brien states that no product is completely green. However, products have shades of green that reflect their impact on the Earth. With the facts, the clients are able to make a conscious decision on how their choices can affect the environment.
O'Brien says, "I see Erin Designs as a business that people would come to if they want a project that has the sustainability piece to it." Over the years, clients of Erin Designs have greatly appreciated O'Brien's expertise. And given the rising awareness of environmental issues and the health impact of construction materials, it is not surprising that Erin Designs has been successful. O'Brien says, "Going green is more than a trend. It's a lifestyle."
O'Brien credits Western Dairyland with a significant portion of her success in recent years. Several years ago, O'Brien lacked confidence in her abilities to run a business and decided to attend the Women's Business Conference. She participated in some break-out sessions and worked one-on-one with a Business Development Specialist. In later years, O'Brien became more involved with the Women's Business Conference, serving on a panel, working as a vendor, and being a guest speaker. O'Brien says, "Not only did the Women's Business Conference help build my business on a marketing level, it also helped me gain confidence on a personal level."
Through the encouragement of Western Dairyland, Erin Designs recently applied for and received certification as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. The program was established in order to encourage more equitable distribution of government contracting dollars in both the public and private sector. O'Brien says the certification will definitely be a part of moving her business forward.
To see photos of O'Brien's work, visit www.erindesigns.com.
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Sincerely,
Karman Briggs
Western Dairyland Business Center
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