Horizons Provides Resources for Entrepreneurs
Posted: Monday, November 16
Nearly fifty people, from Deer Park to Republic, gathered at the IEL in Colville on Saturday, November 14, to network with local experts on setting up businesses.
Colville softwares developer Elliott Edwards of Hachisoft kicked off the all-day event with a presentation, "Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Open Source," introducing participants to a wide array of technology systems, some free and low cost. "We didn't know what we didn't know," one attendee remarked.
Noon keynoter, Heather Ruskievicz, who built Colville's Heather's Fairy Tale Bakery, told an inspirational story of how her son's military death both enabled and empowered her to open her bakery, wanting it to become a treasured place for the community children and their parents.
Debra Kollock, director of Stevens County WSU Extension, and Donna Jo Smith, manager of the IEL, discussed how their educational institutions can help entrepreneurs with needed training.
Dana McDowell of Rural Resources Community Action and WorkSource, discussed the history of the "Your Big Idea" contest, and described how local inventors can win a scholarship through Horizons to have their product idea evaluated by the WSU Innovation Assessment Team in Pullman. McDowell has packets available and can be contacted at 509-685-6158 or tollfree 1-800-766-2178.
Tri-County Economic Developement director Leslie Jones told the group how TEDD can help finance a new or existing entrepreneur, while Betty Buckley of Stonesoup, talked about Internet marketing opportunities through the website: Shop the Frontier. Monica McMackin, Forestry Specialty Products, detailed how to set up a cooperative.
Rick Hanson, certified public accountant, discussed practical steps in starting a new business, and Elaine Clough described business website basics. Scott Douglas of SCORE and Sue Poe of Edward Jones presented on marketing and microlending.
For those who were just starting to think about taking the first steps but were hesitant, Terri Elders, LCSW, discussed how to surmount initial worries, and Muriel Meyer and Ann Van Dielen provided an exercise on determining entrepreneurial types.
Meyer will be teaching a three-session non-credit course in February and March at the IEL, Colville Center, with registration accepted after December 1. The course will cost $24, with $15 for the text. For more information, contact Donna Jo Smith, (509) 685-2120.
Colville Horizons address is P.O. Box 1048, Colville, WA, 99114. Its current activities are posted on its website, www.colvillewa.org. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 7, at 4:30, Room 127 at the IEL, Colville Center, 985 S. Elm Street, Colville. The public is invited.
The above was written by Theresa Elders, Colville HORIZONS Board Member.
