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Greetings!
We have had both trying and exciting times in Colorado in the last month. The Southwest SBDC recently had an extremely successful Women's Small Business Conference in Durango, Colorado. Over 165 women were in attendance to learn everything from marketing and social media to financing and current legislative issues. We will be hosting our next Women's Small Business Conference in August as well as an Emerging Industries Conference in early September. In addition to these, there will be two Veterans conferences set for October and December. Stay tuned for dates and times! More information on the next Women's Small Business Conference in Keystone on August 9th, can be found in this newsletter!
On a much more serious note, our thoughts and condolences go out to the Colorado residents who lost homes and businesses in the recent Colorado wildfires. We would like all residents and business owners alike to know that we are here to assist in any way possible. We have been and will continue to help business owners strategize and market their businesses as they weave their way through this tragedy. The Colorado Springs SBDC has set up a disaster relief table and the Larimer SBDC has numerous consultants specifically available to help businesses directly and indirectly affected by the fires. Each of these resources will continue to be there until the need has expired. We look forward to helping each individual and business come through this tragedy stronger than ever.
Please stay tuned and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have regarding this recent disaster.
Stay tuned for upcoming Conference dates and time. More news and exciting opportunities below. Please 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: D'Medici Footwear | | |
When D'Medici Footwear opened this spring, Susan Bony saw the need to introduce Debbie Tenaglia to Jim Sigle. As a counselor for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Susan works with a variety of businesses and non-profits throughout the Montrose area helping them prosper. Susan knew both Debbie and Jim, but why introduce these two people? Debbie owns D'Medici Footwear in Montrose and Jim Sigle is a custom boot maker from Delta. Susan saw the opportunity for these two businesses to work together and help each other grow, so she encouraged them to meet and to begin working together, as she often does with businesses when she sees mutual benefits.
 At the initial meeting with Jim and Debbie the synergies created with the collaboration of these two businesses was obvious. Jim will not only be creating custom boots and moccasins for D'Medici clients but also custom orthotics. Debbie has also invited Jim to demonstrate his craftsmanship at Main in Motion each week in front of her store. This will allow people to come and see how a custom boot or moccasin is made. Jim would like to encourage everyone to stop by and observe this art form as very few people know how boots are made. When Jim completes a pair of boots they are truly a unique work of art that the owner can enjoy wearing for years. One day soon, both Jim and Debbie hope to see their footwear walking all over the Montrose area.
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Colorado Springs Disaster Recovery Center
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 The Disaster Recovery Center is transitioning from a face-to face resource to telephone and internet. On Monday, July 16, DRC information and referral services will move to Citizens Service Center at 1675 Garden of the Gods Road.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will continue to host the Small Business Resource Table to provide face-to-face assistance to all small businesses in need.
The SBDC office location is at 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway.
Hours will be Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm, Closed on Weekends.
Helping small businesses recover from the affects of the Waldo Canyon Fire is our priority.
Stopping by the SBDC or calling for an initial assessment will ensure that you are privy to all the most recent updates and resources for small businesses as they become available.
More information can be found at the Colorado Springs SBDC website.
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NxLevel Online for Entrepreneurs
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Are you Ready to invest in your Business Dreams?
You've got the dream, you have the drive, now give yourself the edge you need to succeed!
NxLeveL® Online brings expert advice and instruction to where you are, when you need it.
Your Business needs a solid foundation: Build one in your time, at your pace.
NxLeveL® Online for Entrepreneurs delivers practical guidance as you create your business plan.
 Get hands-on training with:
⇒ Bookkeeping
⇒ Marketing
⇒ Financial Projections
⇒ Lending Negotiations
⇒ Management & Organization
The entrepreneur who plans is the entrepreneur who succeeds!
To learn more, contact us today!
Jayne Reiter, Colorado SBDC Consultant
jaynereiter@comcast.net
www.lcsc.edu/nxlevel
303.892.3840
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| Small Business Tip : Five Ways to Take Control of Your Cash | | |
Five Ways to Take Control of Your Cash
Cash. We all need it, but somehow often it's not there when we need it the most. Take the advice of these tips to keep cash flow problems to a minimum and make your cash work for you.
- Pay close attention to your cash flow.
- Have customers pay in advance or at the time of service. Don't let accounts go stale.
- Take your time. Don't grow too fast.
- Nothing is free. Avoid giving away advice or your knowledge for free. Try charging a fee for consultations or offering discounts, coupons, bonus products to draw customers in instead.
- Outsource. Try outsourcing some tasks to cut down on your payroll.
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Main Street Mentors Walk
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 Small businesses are the backbone of Colorado's economy! This inaugural event gives entrepreneurs the chance to learn from someone who has "been there, done that" and has walked in the shoes of a fledgling business owner.
The Main Street Mentors Walk is a 5K (three-mile) walk around City Park where successful business owners (mentors) are matched with early stage entrepreneurs (mentees) to walk and talk about business. Registration opens July 16 here.
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Save the Date: Women's Small Business Conference
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 Register Here
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Jump Start Biz Plan Awards Honor Best In Small Business
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 The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) will honor the best and brightest ideas in small business this fall through its first ever JumpStart Biz Plan Awards. The program will recognize the top ten start-up and early-stage business plan finalists with tools to help their businesses thrive in Denver.
"Our culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Denver is as strong as ever," said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. "To celebrate this, we're looking to identify and contribute to the strongest ideas that will help further strengthen Denver as a top city for small business."
The grand prize includes a $50,000 cash award, one year of office space at Galvanize's G1.0 building, 35 hours of legal counsel provided by Polsinelli Shughart, 60 hours of tax/accounting services provided by Deloitte, 60 hours of strategic marketing services from Dovetail Solutions, and social media consulting from WideFoc.us.
Identified as a key strategic initiative in OED's JumpStart 2012 strategic plan, the awards program is open to start-up businesses and established businesses with up to 25 employees that have been in operation for up to five years. Applicant businesses must reside or have plans to reside in Denver.
Applications will be reviewed initially via the Business Catapult online platform by a panel of OED staff and business partners. Top finalists will be reviewed by a panel of business leaders, including executives, from Deloitte, Dovetail Solutions, Galvanize, Polsinelli Shughart, and the Bard Center for Entrepreneurship.
Awards program is open to the first 150 entries. Applications are being accepted now through September 14, 2012, or until 150 entries have been received. Winners will be announced during Denver Startup Week, October 22-26, 2012, in coordination with the Downtown Denver Partnership and the Colorado Technology Association. For more information or to apply, visit www.denvergov.org/business.
JumpStart Biz Plan sponsors include Galvanize, Polsinelli Shughart, Deloitte, Dovetail Solutions, WideFoc.us and Business Catapult.
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Denver Energy Challenge
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Certifiably Green Denver 
The City and County of Denver is offering a FREE environmental assistance and certification program for Denver businesses. This program offers assistance with Water Conservation, Resource Management, Transportation, Business Management, and Energy Efficiency.
More information found here.
Denver Energy Challenge
The City and County of Denver has launched a FREE program known as the Denver Energy Challenge. This is a FREE program aimed at helping residents and businesses cut energy waste, save money, and increase comfort.
The program provides energy advising and access to exclusive rebates, and financing for energy improvements.
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Federal Government Approves Drought Disaster for Colorado
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DENVER - Tuesday, July 3, 2012 - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack notified Gov. John Hickenlooper today that 62 of the state's 64 counties qualify for federal disaster relief because of drought conditions.
"The Department of Agriculture has reviewed the Loss Assessment Reports and has determined that there were sufficient production losses in 62 counties to warrant a Secretarial disaster designation," a letter from Vilsack says. "Therefore, I am designating all Colorado counties, except Delta and San Juan counties, as primary disaster areas due to losses caused by drought, excessive heat, and high winds that occurred from Jan. 1, 2012, and continuing."
 Hickenlooper sent a letter last week to Vilsack seeking the drought assistance.
"We are very grateful for Secretary Vilsack's speedy review of our request," Hickenlooper said. "This federal disaster declaration will give farmers and ranchers in Weld County and nearly every other part of the state much needed relief."
Typically, counties must meet certain crop loss criteria to qualify for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance. Once that crop loss criteria is met, the governor then make a request to the Secretary of Agriculture asking for a disaster designation for that county.
This year, because of severe drought conditions in across the state, the Colorado Department of Agriculture worked with the local USDA Farm Service Agency office in seeking a disaster designation before each county shows the minimum crop loss.
The federal assistance approved today includes Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. FSA will consider each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses, security available and repayment ability.
Local FSA offices can provide farmers with more information.
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Upcoming Events
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Denver Metro
Wednesday July 25, 2012
Maximizing Your Company's Facebook Fan Page
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, 1445 Market St, Denver, Co 80202
9:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: $35
Tuesday July 31, 2012
Lunch Brown Bag: Promoting Your Business with Pinterest
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, 1445 Market St, Denver, Co 80202
11:30am - 1:00pm
Cost: $15
Register here
South Metro
Thursday, July 19th
Business Start-Up Basics
Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Boulevard, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Cost: No Charge
Register here
Tuesday, August 16th
Business Plan Basics
Smoky Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle, Centennial, Co 80015
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Cost: No Charge
Register here
Boulder
Thursday August 9th
Business Research 101 Essentials
Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, Co 80302
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Cost: No Charge
Register here
Tuesday, August 14th
Marketing Plan Essentials
Boulder SBDC, 2440 Pearl St, Boulder, Co 80302
2pm - 5pm
Cost: $45/$35 w/ Chamber Membership
Register here
North Metro
Thursday, August 16th
Basic Contract Law for Small Business Owners
Front Range Community College, 3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, Co 80030
For more information - call 303-460-1032
Register here
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 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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