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Greetings!
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Kelly Manning
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Springtime is now in full swing, and summer is just around the corner. The beautiful Colorado springtime weather brings the promise of new opportunities, new business starts, and more job creation. This month, I would like to give you an update on the Network's successful start to another great year! For the first quarter 2012, the Network is boasting 430 jobs created, 77 new business starts, and $34,108,000 in capital formation. This is very exciting, as we are only just beginning to get underway for 2012!
In other news, Colorado continues to lead the charge in entrepreneurial activity. The Colorado Brewers Guild recently released an Economic Impact Study showcasing the Colorado Craft Brewing Industry. Craft breweries made up 64% of industry jobs and were responsible for $446 million in capital formation throughout 2011. The SBDC will continue to support our small business craft brewers and we are always excited to see that the Colorado entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and well!
We are very excited about our upcoming Conferences aimed at promoting professional development and networking among small business owners! There are two upcoming Women's Small Business Conference's planned for July and August. We will be hosting an Emerging Industries Conference in early September as well as two Veterans conferences set for October. In addition to these, we are also planning a Craft Brewery Conference to be held towards the end of September. We are looking forward to these great events, so stay tuned for dates and locations to be posted in our Newsletter!
There are many other exciting opportunities that the SBDC and our partners have put together for this coming month. Colorado Creative Industries are continuing to offer grant application training for the Colorado Creates Grant and Google is launching a very exciting new venture helping small businesses to build, maintain, and tweak their own websites. This will be a great learning resource for many small businesses.
More great news and exciting opportunities below. Check with your local SBDC for workshops and events in your area.
Sincerely,
Kelly Manning
State Director
Colorado Small Business Development Centers
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| Success Story : Rain Botique | | |
 Kristin Mouton started with an idea and a name - Rain Boutique - first visualized while enjoying a summer shower. When a few of her favorite shops in Old Town Fort Collins closed, she started traveling to Flatiron Crossing in Broomfield to shop at stores that suited her style. While speaking to shop owners at the mall, Mouton learned that close to 40 percent of patrons at Flatiron Crossing were also traveling from northern Colorado for the same reasons.
Mouton took several classes at the SBDC, including Know Thy Numbers: Basic Bookkeeping; So You Want to Start a Business; I Need Financing, What Now?; and Credit Card Processing. Then she started working with Andrea Grant, her counselor, to build her business plan, find a location, secure financing and procure inventory. "My counselor at SBDC really kept me going and gave me a lot of reassurance, even after I had been turned down by two banks for a business loan," said Mouton.
Mouton came back from her first buyers' fair so excited about the merchandise she saw but a little overwhelmed as well - there were 3,500 different brands and suppliers with many products not available in Fort Collins. Within a few days of returning from New York, Mouton received loan approval. She was on her way to achieving her dreams.
"Once I found the right space, I started working on store layouts, finalizing inventory and renovating the space," said Mouton. "I found going to buy apparel complete madness, especially when I had to stick to a budget, but it was so much fun to finally see it all come together."
Overall, Mouton says that having a great support system - through friends, family and the SBDC - really made a big difference.
Rain Boutique is located at 214 Pine Street in Old Town Fort Collins. The store is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For additional information, visit www.rainfeelsgood.com
Written by Dawn Wilson, Med Vet Communications
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SBA Small Business Video Contest
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SBA Says: Colorado, Tell Us Your Story!
Video contest will showcase successful Colorado small businesses; Winning videos to be highlighting during National Small Business Week
Do you have a small business story to tell? Every business has one. Tell your story to the SBA and your video may appear at National Small Business Week, SBA's marquee event that attracts hundreds of small business owners, Fortune 500 company executives, Members of Congress and Obama Administration officials.
In celebration of National Small Business Week 2012, SBA is looking for creative videos from small businesses that show how they have been helped by an SBA program or service. The contest will raise awareness of the importance of SBA programs, and the impact the small businesses that use them have in their local communities.
Three winning videos will also be shown during a Google+ Hangout hosted by the SBA and the White House with SBA Administrator Karen Mills on May 24. The winners can also participate in the event with Administrator Mills, while she answers questions from small businesses around the country. All qualifying videos will be showcased on SBA's YouTube page.
Contestants can enter the contest by producing an original video, two minutes or less, that shares their story. The list of Contest Rules provides additional details on required video content. All eligible videos will be judged by SBA senior officials on the inspirational nature of the message and the creativity or uniqueness of the video concept.
 Videos will feature small business owners from across the country discussing the SBA assistance the company received, the most rewarding aspects of starting a business and how the SBA assistance benefited the business and the local community. Small businesses may have received SBA business counseling, SBA-guaranteed financing or SBA disaster assistance or participated in a SBA contracting program or in SBA's online community.
The videos can be submitted through Challenge.gov from 12pm EDT April 16 through 5pm May 11. The contest offers the opportunity to celebrate entrepreneurship and hear directly from small business owners how SBA has helped them grow and create jobs.
For more information on the Small Business Week Video Contest, visit http://smallbizvid.challenge.gov
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Free Website Building Workshops for Small Businesses
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Google and friends invite you to get your business online...for free!
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If you don't have a website or online business listing, you'll find everything you need to get started - web professionals at your side every step of the way. If your business is already online, you'll find tools and resources to help you succeed. Space is limited, so register in advance for this FREE event.
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Sessions
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Build your free website 1.5 hours
Create and publish a website for your business using Intuit Sitebuilder. We'll provide laptops or a place to plug-in if you bring your own.
* Set up your free website account.
* Register a domain name (your "address" on the web).
* Select a website template and learn how to customize it.
* Publish your website.
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Grow your business online 1 hour
* Learn the basics of how other people find your business online, with methods like search engine optimization (SEO), web analytics and more.
* Run your business more efficiently with online tools, including applications for improving collaboration and communication.
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Promote your business online 1 hour
* Attract customers down the street or across the country with online marketing tools like Google AdWords and AdWords Express.
* Learn how to focus your marketing efforts and budget for your target audience.
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Online Expo All day
No pre-registration is needed to participate in the Online Expo. Sit down with Google team members to get one-on-one advice. Be sure to bring your toughest online marketing questions!
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Please register now, spots will fill up quick!
More information here.
Monday May 14th
7:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday, May 15th
7:30am - 2:00pm
The Cable Center
2000 Butchel Boulevard
Denver, Co 80210
Get Directions
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| Colorado Creative Industries Grant Sessions | |
 Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the state Office of Economic Development, has scheduled grant information sessions from April 25 through May 18 to provide training on the division's largest grant program, Colorado Creates.
CCI staff will present an overview of the agency's programs and services and offer training on how to apply for a Colorado Creates Grant. Colorado Creates is the division's largest grant program, providing critical financial support that helps nonprofit cultural organizations and government agencies produce and present arts and cultural activities, bringing jobs to their communities and enhancing the quality of life. For Fiscal Year 2011-2012, 132 grants were awarded totaling $908,500, reaching 32 counties across the state. Grants range from $4,000 to $10,000 and may be for either general operating support or specific projects.
Guidelines for the 2012-2013 Colorado Creates grant program are available on the CCI website at www.coloradocreativeindustries.org, along with the link to the online grant system. The grant deadline is June 21, 2012.
Please click here for upcoming session dates.
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2012 Small Business Forum
| |   The 2012 Small Business Forum is coming soon! Small businesses owners are the foundation of a healthy economy and it's vital for us to work together to build our capacities. Many small business owners don't know about or have trouble accessing the resources already existing in our communities, so the Small Business Forum was created to bring these resources together in one place that's accessible for business owners.
Created and hosted by the Mile High Business Alliance, the forum is a full day event that includes complimentary breakfast, lunch, and other refreshments for attendees as they make their way between workshops and sessions. The Forum will be held Friday June 1st, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Find more information on the Small Business Forum here.
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| Small Business Tip : Cash Flow As a Financial Management Tool | | |
 5 Tips to Create a Clear Marketing Message
Do you have a clear marketing message? A clear marketing message will attract potential customers' attention. Here are some tips for what to include in your marketing message.
1. How will you will solve their problem or meet your customers' needs?
2. Why should they trust you?
3. What makes your business different than your competitors? What makes you unique?
4. Why should they choose to do business with you? 5. What results have you had for other customers/clients in a similar situation? This week's tip was provided by the South Metro Denver SBDC |
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World Trade Day 2012 Conference
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 World Trade Day, organized by the World Trade Center Denver has established itself as one of the Region's most successful and exciting focal points for the Colorado business community and other companies beyond the state to gather, network, and learn about the most interesting and pressing issues facing international businesses today.
Taking place on May 17, 2012, World Trade Day coincides with World Trade Week, which was declared by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935. As an organization committed to international trade and business facilitation, the World Trade Center's goal is to assist businesses as they seek to expand their horizons and bottom line by tapping into global opportunities.
Events
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Revenue North Business Growth Summit
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 Revenue North Business Growth Summit provides entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized business owners, and managers with local (regional) affordable, no-frills, world-class training. Conference training focuses on sales, marketing, customer retention, access to capital and acquiring A+ talent and is designed to help attendees grow their business and increase revenue. Experts are gathered in all fields to share proven ways to grow your business.
- Choose from over 55 sessions that will grow your business.
- Led by local world-class presenters with proven strategies in Colorado.
- Learn ideas that can grow your business revenue even in a down economy.
The Revenue North Summit is 100% focused on helping businesses increase their profitability through revenue growth in the most cost-effective manner possible. Click here to learn more.
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New Small Business Intuit Applications
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 SBDC Partner, Intuit, is seeking small business owners to use and give feedback on a pair of iPhone and iPad applications. These apps aim to help small business invoice painlessly, get paid quickly, track expenses, and keep information organized to build better customer relationships. Note that this is currently limited to businesses that are not using QuickBooks today.
Participating businesses will receive the applications free for the duration of the 6 month test and will have the opportunity to sign up for additional studies with paid compensation. If you're interested, apply here. |
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Upcoming Events
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Colorado Springs
Wednesday, June 13th
The DoubleTree Hotel, 1775 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO
8:00am - 2:00pm
Wednesday, June 13th
2012 Business in Action Forum
Aims Event Center, 5590 West 11th St, Greeley, Co 80634
8:00am - 5:00pm
Register- 970-352-3661
San Louis Valley
Tuesday, May 22nd
30 Marketing Tips in 30 Minutes
Monte Vista Information Center, 947 1st Avenue, Monte Vista, CO 81144
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Cost: No Charge
Register - 719-589-3862
Thursday, May 24th
Customer Service Training for Front Line Employees
Creede, Creede Chamber of Commerce - 8:00am - 10:00am
South Fork, South Fork Library 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Register - 719-589-3862
Boulder
Thursday, May 10th
Process Improvement for Small Business
Boulder Chamber, 2440 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302
8:30am - 11:30am
Cost : Free
Register here
Wednesday, May 16th
Colorado Emerging Ventures Breakfast: How Much is Your Business Worth?
Boulder Chamber, 2440 Pearl Street Boulder, Co 80302
Cost: Free for attendees who qualify
Register - Please contact Sharon King 303.442.1475x3 or Sharon.King@boulderchamber.com
South Metro Denver
Monday, May 14th
Business Plan Basics
Steps to Writing a Successful Business Plan
Smoky Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle, Centennial, Co 80015
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Cost: No Charge
Wednesday, June 13th Lender's Panel Learn and Ask Questions About Funding Your Business 6:30pm - 8:30pm Cost: $10 North Metro Wednesday, May 9th Access to Capital Forum 1STBANK Center, Mountain View Room 11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield, CO 80021 8:00am - 10:00am Cost: No Charge Register here |
 Colorado Small Business Development Center a division of
Colorado Office of Economic Development
& International Trade
1625 Broadway, Suite 2700
Denver, CO 80202 |
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