Tuesday evening, March 11, the Entrepreneurial Committee met at the Hideout in Fernwood. I must say, they are a friendly group! So friendly they have taken me in wholeheartedly! The regular attendees at the meeting seem to be Jane Alley, co-chairperson, Rosemary Niemier (co-chairperson for the Communication Committee), Fred Niemier, Rudy Heicksen, and Richard Pullman. It looks like I will be a regular from now on as well.
Jane was unable to attend this meeting so Richard acted in her stead to cover a short agenda of business. One pressing item was the need to refill the position of co-chair to help Jane Alley since Brian Primer is unable to attend meetings with the change of time to evenings. Judi Heicksen (that’s me) was asked to fill the position. Richard was also looking for someone who would be willing to blog on the website and I got that job as well.
Next on the agenda was my report on the IRP’s Community Review resource. I spoke with Shelby Kern at the Idaho Rural Partnership in Boise and she said that they are taking applications, they do not turn down any applications, but they provide the services to the communities on a first come first served basis. Right now they are about a year out in getting to the next applicants. They have about four of them in line now. She says we need to pick three key areas we want to look at more deeply and focus on those in the review. It is a lot of work once it is begun with surveys going out to community members, meetings of interested parties, touring the area by the group of reviewers and additional research. The community would need to provide payment for transportation within the local area, the cost of 7 meals, and provide a list of area lodgings so that the reviewers can decide where they want to stay. In the end they would present the community with a full-report of their findings and suggestions. These can be used to help lay out a strategic plan for the future.
The Hingston Roach Group offers services to communities as well. These do not include community reviews. They are more interested in helping communities with economic development and strategic planning. Their services begin at about $10,000 and go up from there. The process they go through also involves the community with meetings, individual interviews, surveys, etc. to determine the vision, strengths, and wishes of the community as a whole. They recommend funding from the local chamber, the private sector, which has an interest in these activities, and grants.
The Entrepreneurial Committee decided to continue to consider these possibilities as our other action plans develop and come together. In the meantime we will continue to encourage you, the business people (yes, you are a business person if you are operating a greenhouse from which you sell plants and seeds and produce locally, if you are selling baked goods at the farmer’s market or on a local route, if you are selling arts and crafts even to friends and family, or if you WISH you were.) to come out to our meetings, email us, or drop in at the Networking Breakfasts on the first Monday of the month (at 8:00 at the Drifters in Emida.)
For those of you who are interested in getting a small business started there are some small business workshops coming up in Plummer on APRIL 9, 14, and 23, from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Wellness Center. Workshop #1 is Starting a Business, #2 is Marketing, and #3 is Finances. The sessions are $15 each or $40 for all three if paid in advance. Registration deadline is March 15. You may get more information at 686-1716. Laura Laumatia (llaumatia@cdatribe-nsn.gov) is the local organizer. The same workshops are being offered in Kendrick starting April 8 and in Kamiah starting April 29. Further information on those may be obtained from UI Extension Horizons Program. Elizabeth Carney’s (ecarney@uidaho.edu) phone number is 208-596-5975 or Lorie Higgins (Higgins@uidaho.edu) is at 208-885-9717.
The next Entrepreneurial Committee meeting will be at the Hideout on April 8 at 7:00 PM. See you there!