Upriver, ID

The Entrepreneurial Development Team is trying to get a grant to offer classes in the UpRiver area. At the last meeting on July 29, the team discussed many possibilities. We decided to do a survey to pinpoint the areas of greatest interest to the people of the community.

The survey we created lists classes in household and family care, business, computers (from beginning to advanced), job skills, and junior classes for the younger set. There are about 45 different classes listed, with plenty of space to add others. There is also space to offer your services if you are willing to share your expertise

This survey will be printed out, attached to the UpRiver newsletter, and available in all of the local communities wherever we can find a place to put it. Be sure to fill out a survey and get it returned to us as soon as possible. We will be collecting them and compiling the results so that the grant application can be turned in by September 1.

Our next meeting is on August 12, at 7:00 PM at the Hideout. We will be discussing this important topic then and you are very welcome to attend!

The Fernwood Church stepped up to save the Fernwood Senior meal site from closing by taking over management and fiscal responsibilities from the previous provider out of St. Maries. There is also a meals on wheels available in UpRiver. The church also acquired a school bus which they are willing to make available for public transportation, particularly for special events related to the UpRiver Community and organizations.

Entrepreneur and entrepreneurial seem like such big words to me and maybe not everyone knows what they mean or thinks that the words refer to them. Well, if you like to figure out how to make money (other than printing it) you are an entrepreneur!

The UpRiver Communities decided that you are some of the most important people in our community because you help make it live and grow. Therefore a special committee was put into place to help you and everyone else make a living here and help you thrive.–We call it the Entrepreneurial Development Committee. If you’ve been reading these pages you’ve already seen it, but may not have thought you were invited to participate or that it could do anything for you. You ARE invited to attend the meetings and provide your input. You also ARE invited to attend the “business person’s breakfast” (is there a better name for that?) on the first Monday of the month at the Drifters Cafe in Emida. Watch for times (they will start earlier in June).

At the last committee meeting we decided to propose to the board that we have an UpRiver Flea Market on Saturdays at the CAF building. SHHH, don’t tell anyone, yet, because we haven’t gotten it approved, but we hope to be open on the first weekend in June. Watch for further details. (Yes, there would be a charge for having a booth, which will benefit the UpRiver Community’s ability to fund future trainings and other projects.) We proposed the idea of a flea market to make it more comprehensive than a farmer’s market. Perhaps someone with a budding business can try the market here before going on to bigger things. Let’s see what happens. . .

In case you haven’t been checking the community calendar, which Richard so faithfully keeps updated, I wanted you to know about the following events scheduled for this week to which you are invited: (copied directly from the calendar)

Monday, May 5, 2008
Businessperson’s Breakfast You’re invited to a no-host breakfast for an informal visit to get to know one another. Swap lies jobs and fairy tales. 8am at Drifter’s Cafe in Emida. For more information contact Fred Niemier, 245-1459.

(p.s. if this time is not suitable–conflicts with your work schedule, etc.–let Fred know. Maybe changes can be made.)

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Entrepreneurial Development Committee Working to create a business friendly environment. We’ll be meeting at the Hideout Cafe at 7pm. For more information contact Judi Heicksen, 245-5615 or Jane Alley, 245-8801.
Entrepreneurial Training #3: Financial Management by Two Degrees Northwest held at the Kamiah Welcome Center at 6pm-9pm. Contact Meri Joswiak, Horizons Program Assistant, merijoz@uidaho.edu, 208-885-8949 http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/training.htm

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Communications Committee We are working to inform upriver residents about our community activities, organizations, and businesses. Through our newsletter, website, and blog we encourage everyone to participate. We’ll be meeting at the Hideout Cafe in Fernwood at 7pm. For more information call Richard Pullman, 245-9183 or Rosemary Niemier, 245-1459. Website: http://www.upriverunited.org/

I don’t know if I will get in trouble for this–copyright issues and all–but I copied this whole blog from the Horizons Blog site, because I thought it should be posted on all of the community sites in the interest of entrepreneurship. So, here goes:

Smart Women Grant Applications

May 1st, 2008 by kellum

These days the fastest growing group of business owners is women who use their entrepreneur spirits, leadership and creativity to start businesses. According to Luz Robles, director of the Zions Business Resource Center to the Center for Women’s Business Research, in 2006, 7.7 million firms were either woman-owned or women held the majority share. Women account for 29.7 percent of all businesses in the U.S., a 42.3 percent increase since 1997. Women are having a direct impact in our national and state economy.

Zions Bank is committed to working with women to make their dreams a reality by offering a series of micro-grants for women. The 2008 Zions Bank Smart Women Grant enables deserving women with hopes of starting a community-oriented business or project to have access to funding to make this a reality.

Grants are open to female residents in both Utah and Idaho and are awarded in six different areas including small business start-up and expansion; child and elder care; community development; continuing education and teacher support; health and human services; and arts and culture. Community review panels will select the grant recipients.

Applications are available online at www.smartwomen.zionsbank.com and are due by July 31, 2008.

Encouraging Small Business in our Community
October 8, 2007

Present: Jane Alley, Richard Alley, Michael Lape, Brian Primer, Richard Pullman

Brainstorming:

• Classes / training
• Small business incubator
• Community Economic Centers (area for business, not community center bldg.)
• Infrastructure
• Cell phones
• High speed internet
• Community Blog to develop ideas
• Need a shipping presence (Fedex / UPS)

We discussed town common areas with a strip of businesses, community center building, park with bandstand or gazebo, parking areas. Business buildings should be appear in the style common in the west 100 years ago. Possibly wooden sidewalks.
Possibly hold business development seminars with multiple speakers on multiple topics.
Can we cater to out of state hunters?
Look for investors to bring capitol into the area. Possibly to invest in buildings with space for our local entrepreneurs to rent.

Next Meeting: October 29, 2007 1pm to 3pm in the basement at the Fernwood Church.