City sponsors microenterprise class

Thanks to the efforts of Principal Planner Eric Porter, the City of Sisters will be sponsoring a free course this January called "Seven Weeks to Starting Your Business."

About a year ago the city applied for and was awarded an $89,000 Oregon Community Development Block Grant.

This grant is used by cities and counties around the state to implement "Microenterprise Assistance Services Programs." The state defines "microenterprise" as a commercial enterprise with five or fewer employees, with one or more of them who own the enterprise.

This program helps low and moderate income people develop microenterprises by providing them with access to information and resources relevant to their individual circumstances and goals.

Initially the Wy'East Resource Conservation and Development Council was designated to be the subcontractor on the grant. Wy'East had successfully implemented a microenterprise program in Maupin using the Sirolli Institute's method of "enterprise facilitation" training. (See The Nugget, July 27, 2010, "Can Sisters learn from Maupin's economic development efforts?")

Wy'East's enterprise facilitation training method in Maupin was clearly successful in developing, from the ground up, a number of new businesses. However, the Sirolli method is based on one-on-one consultation, passionate people with new business ideas meeting with an enterprise facilitator - whether it's in a hay field or around their kitchen table. The state's revised condition for eligible projects under the grant only allows classroom training.

The state wanted the sub-contractor to provide general classroom training along with peer support programs and counseling to people developing microenterprises.

Early in 2010 it became clear to both Eric Porter and Wy'East that one of two things had to happen: The grant could be turned back to the state or a new subcontractor could be enlisted to provide training to Sisters Country people.

Understanding that Sisters still carried a "severely distressed" community status in the eyes of the state, Porter met with Beth Wickham, Small Business Development Center Director at Central Oregon Community College (COCC.)

Porter was hoping that the $89,000 grant subcontractor could be shifted from Wy'East to COCC. He first needed to gauge Wickham's interest and capabilities before asking for a shift in subcontractor to the state.

Wickham was both excited and enthusiastic at the prospect of adding Sisters Country-specific training to their course offerings through the Small Business Development Center.

Porter's only remaining challenge was getting the state to agree to a change in subcontractor. Bob Ault, Oregon Business Development Department, also understood Sisters' current challenges and embraced the switch.

Porter's efforts saved the $89,000 grant from being turned back to the state, helping COCC once again offer courses right here in Sisters.

"I am very excited that these grant funds will be used to fund classes that will benefit Central Oregon small businesses, and that some of the classes will take place within the City of Sisters," said Porter.

COCC provides entrepreneurial education for all phases of business development, including courses for people with new small business (microenterprise) ideas. And, most importantly, COCC's concentration is in the classroom - meeting the grant's requirement.

The grant expires June 30, 2011 and the "Seven Weeks" course can't exceed 36 students.

The course is being offered first in Sisters. COCC plans on offering the same course in Madras and possibly Prineville if enrollment is sufficient. But Sisters Country residents are getting first shot because the grant was secured by the City of Sisters.

"We are offering the course in Sisters first so that we can make sure we do not run out of funds before Sisters residents have the opportunity to participate. This will be the only class offered in Sisters (in 2011) because the grant expires on June 30th," said Beth Wickham.

"Seven Weeks to Starting Your Business" will meet every Tuesday evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sisters Library starting on January 18, 2011. The instructor is Maureen Quinn. With a strong background in banking and financing, Quinn's experience also includes owning a wholesale/retail bakery.

COCC is inviting anyone who wants to run their own business, or who has a marketable product or service idea, to register and attend the class. The course is free, but, before registering, COCC wants students to be sure they can commit their time and energy to the full seven weeks.

Pre-registration is required. For more information call 541-383-7290.

The course reference number is 16615.