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News of MERIT
Greetings!
MERIT is starting the New Year off strong with the advent of our Indianpreneurship workshops in Grand Ronde this month and kicking off Explore and Define Your Business classes in Salem, Independence, and McMinnville next month. Don't forget to register for an information session if starting or growing a business was one of your New Year's resolutions this year!
In this month's exciting newsletter, you'll find more information about Indianpreneurship, tips on selling at a Farmer's Market, a program that helps people receiving unemployment benefits start a business, a helpful course for apparel companies, places to volunteer on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, information on how you can file your income-taxes for free, and more.
Forrest Peck
Program Director
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Free Income-Tax Filing
Salem/Keizer CDC is hosting Free Income-Tax Filing sessions for individuals who made less than $57,000 last year. The assistance is available daily January 23-26 from 10am- 4pm at Chemeketa Community College, so come with all of your tax documents in hand to take advantage of this opportunity! Contact Araceli for more information or questions.
Where: Chemeketa Community College, 4000 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem; Rooms: 3-118 & 2-232
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Every year, Americans across the country come together on MLK Day, January 16, to serve their neighbors and communities in meaningful ways.
Check out volunteer opportunities in Salem for this day of service here and here. Options include sorting books for the Reading for All project, building houses with Habitat for Humanity in the Mid-Willamette Valley, a blood drive for the Marion County Blood Donor Center, and more!
Another great way to get involved is through a Homeless Count taking place in Yamhill County on January 25. The purpose of the count is to gather information so that Yamhill County can continue to provide social services for those experiencing homelessness. Contact Megan Paterson by email or at 503-687-1481 for more information.
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Sourcing 101 for Apparel Companies
The Department of Design and Human Environment at Oregon State University will be offering a 3-hour workshop on January 27th titled "Sourcing 101 for Apparel Companies". It is intended for smaller start-up companies. The workshop addresses the issues associated with finding suitable materials or contracts and how trade regulations and customs can affect your business. This workshop will provide an overview of sourcing criteria, sourcing decision making, and resources specifically for apparel companies. Case studies and company-specific guidance will be provided.
The workshop is on Friday, January 27th from 9am-noon at the OSU Food Innovation Center, 1207 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 154, Portland, OR 97209. The cost is $75/person. The class size is limited to 12 so register ASAP. Contact Brigitte Cluver, Director of the OSU Apparel Research Center, at 541-737-9586 or by email to register.
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Ready-to-Rent in Yamhill County
Do you have barriers that prevent you from renting, like bad credit, poor rental history, evictions, or other similar issues? The Housing Authority of Yamhill County offers classes to help people overcome screening barriers and be more successful renters. People who complete the program receive a certificate to show
area landlords that you are
Ready-to-Rent
.
When: January 12, 17, 19, 24, & 26
Where: HAYC, 135 NE Dunn Place, McMinnville
Pre-enrollment required, read more about the program here. Contact Jay at 503-883-4308 to register.
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Register for an Information Session!
Information sessions for the next MERIT Explore and Define Your Business series are coming up in Salem in both English and Spanish. Information sessions are happening in Independence and McMinnville, as well. Register for an information session on our website.
Independence:
Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 6-7:30pm, Independence Civic Center, 555 South Main St., Heritage Room
McMinnville:
Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 6-7:30pm, Chemeketa Community College Yamhill Campus 306 NE Norton Lane, Building 2, Room 125
Salem (in English & Spanish):
Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 6-7:30pm, Chemeketa Center for Business & Industry, 626 High St NE
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Indianpreneurship in Grand Ronde
MERIT also offers business start-up training in Grand Ronde to tribal and community members. To learn more about this, click here or contact Mona Edwards.
A Native American Journey Into Business - This intensive 10-week class guides students through a cultural experience providing the framework for successful business start-up and culminating in a written business plan.
Culturally relevant coursework over ten sessions:
- Story-based illustrations of business principles
- Hands-on exercises and exercise pull-outs
- Photos of Native American entrepreneurs and their
 businesses - Native-inspired graphics
- Used by Tribal Economic Development departments, Vocational Rehabilitation programs and Tribal Colleges alike
The course begins Thursday, January 19, 2012, 6-7:30pm, Education Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road
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Considering Selling at a Farmer's Market?
If you are considering being a vendor at an outdoor market, the Salem Saturday Market website has a very good resource page for vendors of produce and food products. The website also has information on becoming a vendor at the Wednesday and Saturday markets in Salem. Read more about it here.
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Self-Employment Assistance Program
If you are newly unemployed and have entrepreneurial aspirations, the Oregon Employment Department has a program that you need to know about. The Self Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) gives an option for individuals with unemployment insurance claims who are identified as being likely to exhaust their benefits before they return to work and may have what it takes to create their own business.
Benefits of the program include giving the individuals a chance to set up their business rather than having to look for jobs, while receiving weekly benefits; help with entrepreneurial training; plus, allowing what is earned from the business to not be deducted from the unemployment check.
Read more about the program here or watch a video on the program.
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Jumpstart or Grow Your Styling Business
You can join Stacy London from TLC's "What Not to Wear" team of stylists through her Style for Hire training
 and certificate program. Style for Hire is kind of like the Mary Kay of stylists but there's no inventory since you sell your styling skills. There are a lot of perks with joining Style for Hire, like access to local and national retailer relationships, built in market, and much more. Check out their "Join Us" tab on their website at www.styleforhire.com.
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Consider investing in a Donation to MERIT
Your donations to MERIT allow us to better serve our clients. MERIT is a 501c3 organization. Thank you for your support!
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Before You Tie the Knot
According to the Wall Street Journal, "business partners often start businesses together with little planning and few ground rules. Sooner or later, they discover the hard way that what's left unsaid or unplanned often leads to unmet expectations, anger and frustration". They suggest that you approach a partnership with close friends or family in the same way that you might with strangers. Thoughtfully plan and prepare every aspect in advance and of course, put it in writing.
For helpful insight into forming a business partnership, check out this guide on their website.
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