Season's Greetings and Update from the Business Solutions Center

Welcome to the premier issue of the Business Solutions Center's Entrepreneurial Endeavors, a quarterly newsletter that highlights the partnership's e-activities. We are sincerely thankful in this holiday season for all of the 30+ partners that have supported the center's efforts to provide youth entrepreneurship education as well as free and confidential counseling to businesses, nonprofits, students, inventors and future entrepreneurs in the Southeastern Illinois region.

Stan Thurman, a successful former businessman, was hired as the BSC counselor in September and we're happy to report that the BSC and SCORE have counseled a total of 58 clients since July 1st! More than half of those counseled are existing businesses or nonprofits in need of advice.

The economic downturn has presented new challenges as well as opportunities for entrepreneurs. In the articles below, read about our well attended (151 participants) panel discussion, Wallstreet Bailout/Main Street Fallout and how we're gearing up in 2009 to help entrepreneurs, businesses and nonprofits by providing a total of seven trainings in the first quarter throughout the region.

And the Survey Says -- Jumpstart the New Year with Training

A survey assessing training needs of businesses and nonprofits during this economic downturn was recently circulated by the Business Solutions Center, the Charleston, Effingham, Paris and Sullivan Chambers of Commerce, The Mattoon Rotary, ECIDC and the Lumpkin Family Foundation's Nonprofit Excellence Program. A total of 59 businesses and 86 nonprofits responded. The survey revealed that both groups are willing to attend training for one-half day mid-week to learn about improving their organization.

Hot topics of interest will be addressed in a three part series "Jumpstarting Your Business or Organization in 2009". All sessions will be on Wednesday mornings from 8-noon and will cost $25 per session. You'll hear from regional experts who will impart their knowledge and best practices, then there will be a peer counseling opportunity and you can discuss your individual with the SCORE counselors and panelists to discusss your business or nonproift's individual issues.

2/11/09 - Top 10 Ways of Reducing Costs - Charleston Public Library

2/25/09 - Enhancing Sales Without Increasing Your Marketing Budget - Mattoon @ Crossroads Workforce Training Center.

3/11/09 - Recognizing New Opportunities - Effingham (TBA)

Call the BSC at 581-2913 for more information and to reserve a space.

Other Training

Discover Web2.0 - What is it and how can my nonprofit benefit?

Thursday, January 29th from 9 am - 2 pm

Sponsored by the Lumpkin Family Foundation & the BSC
at Crossroads Workforce Investment Computer Lab

305 Richlmond Ave., Mattoon Cost: $20 (includes lunch)

Contact Becky Stroud at becky.stroud@consolidated.com to register.

Forum on Community Investment

Come to the Mattoon Country Club and learn about angel groups and venture funds and join the discussion to see if we can use these tools to help support our regional entrepreneurs. The East Central Open group is hosting this event. The date is either Wednesday, January 28th at noon - 1:30 pm. Contactl Trisha Mason at tmason16617@lakeland.cc.il.us for more information.

Three Classes Offered on "How to Start a Business"

In this business climate, it is crucially important to know what steps to take to get your business off to the right start. Our "How to Start a Business" workshop is designed to help you do just that. From analyzing your personal finacial situation to where to get the proper forms to start your business; this workshop gives you the tools you need to get started. The classes are three hours, include valuable workbooks and are just $25 per person. The first quarter workshops are scheduled for:

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 from 6-9 p.m. Charleston Carnegie Public Library - Charleston

Monday, February 2, 2009 from 6-9 p.m.
Midland States Bank - Lincoln Land Bldg. - Effingham

Thursday, February 19, 2009 from 6-9 p.m.

Service Learning Bldg. - Sullivan

Please click here to get the full schedule of upcoming workshops presented throughout the region.

Wall Street Bailout Panel Draws a Crowd Wallstreet/Mainstreet Panel

More than 150 members of the business community and EIU students attended the Wall Street Bailout/Main Street Fallout Panel discussion held at Lumpkin Hall on October 30th. Panel members from business, education and banking discussed what implications the government bailout will have on main street businesses in Southeastern Illinois. Thanks so much to the following panelists for their time and expertise: Jack Schultz of Agracel, Brian Titus of Lorenz Supply Company, Dan Downs of First Neighbor Bank, Chuck LeFvre of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust and Dr. Richard Whitaker of EIU's School of Business. Click here for article highlighting panel advice.

Stan Thurman Hired as BSC Counselor BSC logo

Stan Thurman, former business owner and SCORE volunteer counselor has experienced what owners go through to make the payroll and build a thriving business. Stan provides free and confidential counseling to businesses and nonprofits in the area and has offices in Charleston, Mattoon, Effingham, Paris and Eastern Illinois University. He began in September. Call the BSC office at 217-581-2913 to make an appointment.

Click here for Stan's Office Schedule

Click here to read more about Stan

Youth Entrepreneurship early developer

Approximately 122 Charleston Middle School 8th graders have completed the Junior Achievement curriculum this year. Read what the JG-TC had to say.

I had the pleasure of chaperoning some of the Effingham County High School Entrepreneurs at a college CEO conference in Chicago with Susan Hanfland and Craig Lindvahl. What a great trip! Thanks goes out to Karen and Bob Wolters and Ignite USA for the grand tour of their entrepreneurial business. EIU's Karen Drage also administered a pre-assessment for the Effingham CEO class.

We're beta testing afterschool e-curriculum called All Terrain Brain in the afterschool programs this spring using EIU students studying to be business teachers. More in the next newsletter.

Camp E3 will be held in both Effingham and at Eastern Illinois University in the summer of 2009. Dates and times will be announced soon.

I hoped you enjoyed our first update.

In the next issue -- we will highlight Junior Achievement, the All Terrain Brain Afterschool E-program for 8-12 year olds set for Charleston and Mattoon in the spring and give you the dates and locations for the 2009 Camp e3 high school summer camps.

Please feel free to forward this link to others that you may think would be interested in the information. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions on how the BSC can assist entrepreneurs, please don't hesitate to call me at 581-2913.

Have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Dau
Business Solutions Center Director