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Greetings!
 | | Kelly Manning |
Exciting things are happening in the Colorado business world. The Fortune 500 company Arrow Electronics Inc. (NYSE: ARW) recently announced it will be moving its global headquarters to Colorado. The attraction of such companies is a great indicator of the healthy business climate in Colorado for large and small businesses alike. Read more about Arrow's relocation here. Also, Governor Hickenlooper made the official announcement last week that General Electric (NYSE: GE) will build the largest solar-panel factory in the nation in Aurora. Colorado beat out several other states vying for the plant, which will employ 335 people and be built in the Adams County portion of Aurora. Learn more about the new plant in the Denver Business Journal.
Additionally, in spite of losing some tech jobs, Colorado recently ranked 3rd in the nation in concentration of high-tech workers, according to the TechAmerica Foundation. This is another healthy indicator of Colorado being well positioned for opportunities and growth in tech fields. Colorado's ranking is part of TechAmerica Foundation's Cyberstates 2011: The Definitive State-by-State Analysis of the U.S. High-Tech Industry. Read the press release here.
The next month is full of great opportunities, from short film contests to marketing workshops, symposiums and summits. Be sure and read on to learn more about these opportunities and the many successes of Colorado small businesses!
Sincerely,
Kelly Manning
State Director
Colorado Small Business Development Centers |
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Success Story: Fiesta Time Inc. |
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Fiesta Time Inc. is a family business that started seven years ago in Brighton, Colorado. The Jurado family opened its services with only ten tables and seventy chairs, and since then has grown to be a driving force in the party rental industry. Fiesta Time is now much more than just tables and chairs, offering a whole repertoire of frame tents, pole tents, linens, dance floors, and sound systems.
The Jurado family's success can be attributed through their hard work over the years, but if you were to ask them to whom their success is owed, they will simply answer the grace of God. It is their belief in God that has really shaped their great customer service, treating each customer with the respect they are entitled to, and seeing much more than a dollar sign on their forehead. 
"Going the extra mile" is more than just a coined phrase used at Fiesta Time Inc. it's an action that every customer receives. Whether it is carrying the party equipment to the customer's backyard, or even cleaning up the next morning. This is something that is scarcely seen by party rental companies.
Having a strong foundation is essential for any obstacle confronted in life, especially in business. For it is that very same foundation that follows you through your business lifetime, and the Small Business Development Center provided us with a great foundation. Since the opening of Fiesta Time Inc. in 2003 the SBDC has been there to walk Fiesta Time through all the paper work of registering the business, sales tax license, legal counseling, and even networking within the community. The SBDC has been a true blessing, and as a piece of wisdom we encourage every beginning business to become familiar with their local SBDC. |
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State awards export development grants to 26 small businesses | | |
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced it has selected 26 small businesses from throughout the state to receive Colorado Export Development Grants (CEDG).
With the help of the grant funding and supplementary export counseling provided by the OEDIT staff, grant recipients will be able to expand their product and service exports to new global markets. During the three years it has been offered, the CEDG has helped Colorado companies sustain and expand their businesses through exporting. The CEDG is funded in part this year through a grant award with the U.S. Small Business Administration and awarded a total of $52,750.
To qualify for the CEDG, applicants were required to demonstrate their readiness to export, present a clear and attainable project aimed at achieving sales in a new market, and show how the use of funds would ultimately lead to the retention and/or creation of jobs in Colorado. A record number of companies applied for the grants this year from a variety of industries and locations.
The following companies were selected as grant recipients:
Alpha Data Inc., Denver NGVI North America, Inc., Fort Collins
Avantes Inc., Broomfield Novo Energy, LLC, Fort Collins
aWhere, Inc., Wheat Ridge Oliver Manufacturing Co. Inc. Rocky Ford
Bella Ag, Kersey Optibrand Ltd., LLC, Fort Collins
ERH, Inc. DBA Wolfman, Longmont Organic Pet Superfood, Boulder
Fiberforge Corporation, Glenwood Springs RMB Products Inc., Fountain
FiberLok, Fort Collins RNL Design, Denver
Geotech Environmental Equipment Inc., Denver Schacht Spindle Company Inc., Boulder
GPS Source, Pueblo Specialty Products Company, Longmont
InDevR Inc., Boulder Tapeless Medical, Centennial
Intelagard Inc., Lafayette TheraTogs Inc., Telluride
International Tourism Marketing Inc., Englewood Weaver and Company, Aurora
Lightning Eliminators & Consultants Inc., Boulder Wolf Robotics, Fort Collins |
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First Annual Rocky Mountain AUVSI Symposium | |
The Colorado SBDC is proud to be a sponsor of The Rocky Mountain Chapter of AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International) first annual Rocky Mountain AUVSI Symposium. This symposium will be an opportunity to discuss AUVSI issues among your colleagues, network, hear about exciting research being performed with unmanned vehicles, and interact with those using unmanned systems in the field. Participants include those representing industry, government, and academia and will share interests across all unmanned platforms: air, ground, and sea. 
Date: November 9, 2011
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
Location: SAIC, 360 Command View in Colorado Springs, CO
Cost: AVUSI member early registration $55
AVUSI members registering on-site $65
Non-AVUSI members early registration $105 (includes one year membership)
All early registration closes Tuesday Nov. 8 at 12pm MST. Register here! |
| "Colorado: Home is Where the Heart Is" Short Film Contest | | |
Whether you left your heart in your Colorado hometown or still call our beautiful state home, we want you to grab your cameras and capture those stories on film. 
YOUR MISSION
Make a short film, up to 5 minutes in length, that expresses why Colorado has your heart.
YOUR PRIZE
The top three films will receive a public screening in the Colorado Filmmakers Showcase at the 34th Starz Denver Film Festival, November 2nd through 13th. In addition, the 1st Place winner will receive travel assistance and a full-access pass ($1,000 value) to the Festival and their film showcased on Colorado.gov, the official website for the State of Colorado.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Submit your short film between now and October 14th, 2011 and then get your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to vote for you. Utilize social media to get your video seen and voted for. A judging panel will review the top ten qualified videos with the most public votes and will select the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners on October 27th. More information. |
| ACCION Offers Upcoming Marketing Workshop in Denver | | |
ACCION (www.accionnm.org) is holding an upcoming seminar for aspiring and established business owners on how to successfully promote their businesses and win new clients. During this free and informative session, titled "Marketing 101: Building Your Business and Brand," noted marketing executive and business owner Patricia Lepiani will help entrepreneurs and business owners understand how to build a strong brand for their  business and how to effectively market their business to reach more customers.
The session will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on October 25, 2011 at Mi Casa Resource Center at 360 Acoma Street in Denver. The session is free of charge and light refreshments will be served. To learn more and to reserve your spot, please contact ACCION Loan Officer Jesse Golland at 303-968-5685 or jgolland@accionco.org. |
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Douglas County Business Summit "Prosperity through Community!" | | |
Good4Bizness, a nonprofit business development center, is looking for sponsors, booth holders, & guests for the Douglas County Business Summit, May 10, 2012, Douglas Cty. Fair Grounds Event Center in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Let's welcome Neal Browne, prior anchor for 9News as the Emcee for the Summit, one of the major professionals involved in bringing this event to those who want to do business in Douglas County. When you leave this event, you WILL look at the economy with rejuvenation. Become part of the new attitude!
If interested in participating in this event, it is very important that you let us know your intent to do so as soon as possible. This event is being heavily advertised and will fill quickly. For more details visit www.bizalli.net
Summit Details:
1. over 600 entrepreneurs to attend
2. complimentary business head shot
3. over 100 gifts over $50 in value given out to audience for a $5 charitable donation
4. courtesy bootcamp
5. six national speakers to rejuvenate the economy as a community
6. Parker Mayor David Casiano to speak
7. over 100 food and business booths
8. cocktail hour
9. breakfast served by Whole Foods
10. media advertising of event
11. casino night
12. complimentary massages |
| The Start Up Path | | |
Choose, Learn and Run a successful business! The Start Up Path provides entrepreneurs with practical knowledge about starting a business at an affordable price. Get the  tips tools and secrets from an experienced mentor that learned the business you want to start, by doing it. Choose and learn from a large selection of business leader who succeeded at green energy, internet marketing, home health care, and franchising, to name a few: learn them online and on demand. Get 15% off with coupon code: SBDC15. |
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Business Tip: Free Services for Your Business | | |
by Rhonda Abrams, Association of Small Business Development Centers
Thinking about starting a business but don't have much money? Running a business and need to save every penny? Well, I've got good news. You can get many of the basic services to run your business absolutely free! Phone calls. Productivity software. Marketing campaigns. And more.
I have been watching the cost of starting - and running - a small business or being self-employed drop from the time I started my first business. Even though I was working from my living room, it still cost quite a lot. Now, thanks to Internet-based offerings, you can get a whole range of powerful business services absolutely free. By free, I mean free on an ongoing basis. These are not trial offers. Naturally, some companies offering free services eventually stop or go out of business, but in the meantime, you can take advantage of them.
What's the catch? The companies behind these free services are hoping to make money on you. How? Primarily, they make money when you choose a paid premium service. They expect that your needs are going to grow. As they do, you'll require a higher level of paid service. In a few solutions, the solution-provider uses the free offering as a vehicle to advertise their company. For instance, a free email newsletter service might put "powered by X company" at the bottom of your newsletters as a way of getting their name better known. In a very few cases, you might have to see some advertisements as you use the service, but that's quite rare these days.
Read the rest of the article here and learn more about specific free services for your small business. |
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Upcoming SBDC Events | | |
San Luis Valley
Thursday, Nov 10th
Resource Fair for Veterans and Active Duty Personnel and Family Members
Adams State College - Studet Union Center
10:00am-2:00pm
Contact Rudy Archuleta by Nov. 3rd to RSVP: (719) 589-5118 ext. 123
South Metro Denver
Friday, October 28th
South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce 90th Annual Business Expo
Marriot Denver Tech Center
4900 S. Syracuse Street, Denver, CO 80237
9:00am-4:00pm
Cost: No Charge (Please Bring Non-Perishable Food Items to Donate to the Denver Rescue Mission)
Pease RSVP to attend at www.meetup.com/bestchamber
Wednesday, November 9th
Business Plan Basics
South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce
2154 E. Commons Ave. Suite 342, Centennial, CO 80122
6:30pm-8:30 pm
Cost: No charge
Monday, November 14th
Business Start-Up Basics
Highlands Ranch Library
9292 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
6:30pm-8:30pm
Cost: No charge
Northeast-East Central Colorado
Thursday, October 20
Does Your Business Need Financing?
Carbon Valley Library
7 Park Ave. Firestone, CO
Can't get out of the office? Watch via live webinar from your computer!
9:00am-11:00am
Cost: Free
Register: 970-352-3661 or via email Lisa.drew@unco.edu
Thursday, November 10th
Cutting Costs and Raising Revenue Through Digital Media
CSU Engagement Center
304 Main St. Sterling, CO
Can't get out of the office? Watch via live webinar from your computer
3:00pm-4:30pm
Cost: Free
Denver
Wednesday, November 2nd
Use Your Financials as a Powerful Management Tool
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market Street
Denver, CO 80202
9:00am-12:00pm
Tuesday, November 8th
Breakfast Brown Bag: 14 Fresh Strategies to Attract Prospects Using Social Media
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market Street
Denver, CO 80202
7:30am-9:00am
Wednesday, November 9th and Wednesday, November 16th
Sales Basic I & II
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market Street
Denver, CO 80202
9:00am-11:00am
Thursday, November 17th
Business Brown Bag: 5 Hidden Roadblocks to Overcome for Sales Success
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
1445 Market Street
Denver, CO 80202
11:30am-1:00pm
Larimer
Wednesday, November 9th
Stop the Revolving Door! Hire & Retain Great Employees
Small Business Development Center
125 S. Howes, Suite 150
Key Bank Tower, Fort Collins
8:30am-11:00am
More info here!
Colorado Springs
Friday, October 26th
Funding Your Business
SBDC Bldg - UCCS Campus
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, 80918
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Registration and Prepayment required, please call the SBDC at (719) 255-3844 to register and prepay
More info here
Thursday, October 27th (weekly, 4-sessions)
Government Contracting: Business Structure and Portfolio Development
SBDC Bldg - UCCS Campus
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, 80918
5:30pm-7:30pm
Registration and Prepayment required, please call the SBDC at (719) 255-3844 to register and prepay
More info here
Tuesday, November 1st
QuickBooks Pro: Intro - Part 1
SBDC Bldg - UCCS Campus
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, 80918
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Registration and Prepayment required, please call the SBDC at (719) 255-3844 to register and prepay
More info here
Tuesday, November 1st
How to Plan for a Successful Website
SBDC Bldg - UCCS Campus
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, 80918
1:00pm-4:00pm
Registration and Prepayment required, please call the SBDC at (719) 255-3844 to register and prepay
More info here
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  Colorado Small Business Development Centers A division of
Denver, CO 80202 | |
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