City supports microenterprise program

The City of Sisters has formally declared support of a grant submitted by the Bend Community Action Team (BCAT) on behalf of the Central Oregon Microenterprise Progam.

Sisters enterprenuers will be able to take advantage of the program.

The microenterprisedevelopment industry has defined "microenterprise" as a business with five or fewer employees, which requires $35,000 or less in start up capital and which does not have access to the traditional commercial banking sector.

Many micro businesses are home-based, some are part-time, others are started by dislocated workers. There are an estimated 2 million microentrepreneurs in the United States.

Sisters is taking the lead in acting on behalf of a regional partnership with the City of Redmond and Deschutes County to support the Central Oregon Microenterprise Program. Bend is developing its own program through the Bend Community Action Team.

Oregon House Bill 2406 (May, 2001) created the microenterprise development program and authorized the Economic and Community Development Department to make grants to local microenterprise supportorganizations.

Central Oregon Parnership is the parent organization for the seven Community Action Teams in Central Oregon.

According to Judy Trego, Community Advocate for the Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS), the mission of the Central Oregon Partnership is to reduce poverty, build assets and serve low income entrepreneurs via the microenterprise program.

In response to an Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN) request for proposals, Microenterprise Network of Central Oregon (MNCO) has applied for a block grant to support microenterprise programs in Central Oregon.

MNCO, through the partner organizations, offers assistance with financial fitness classes, business planning and development courses, counseling, and ongoing support once a business has been started.

According to Trego, Sisters area entrepreneurs can apply for funding through CATS. Trego is employed by Central Oregon Partnership to market the microenterprise program to entrepreneurs. Funds will be channeled through the city to the service providers Central Oregon Community Action Agency Network (COCAAN), then on to entrepeneurs