History of OMEN

1997:

  • Oregon group of small business service providers attends the Nebraska AEO (Association for Enterprise Opportunity) Microenterprise conference.
  • Recognizing the need to cooperatively tackle issues of funding, training, messaging and scale, the group agreed to pursue formalizing their efforts into an organization, the Oregon Microenterprise Network.

1998:

  • OMEN receives status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and becomes incorporated
  • OMEN joins AEO, becomes one of several State Microenterprise Associations (SMAs) including Nebraska, Maine, California and Georgia
  • OMEN is managed by a six-person volunteer Board of Directors.  Operations were headquartered out of the Eugene-based residence of founder and board member, Bill Goldsmith.

1999:

  • OMEN starts statewide VISTA program to bring full-time volunteers to its membership
  • Website launched, publication of the first Member Guide & Directory and first Annual Meeting of its membership.

2000:

  • OMEN receives its first three-year grant from Meyer Memorial Trust.
  • OMEN’s first Executive Director, Bill Goldsmith, is hired.

2001:

  • Legislative success with the passage of the Microenterprise Act in the 2001 Legislative Session, which resulted in codifying OMEN and microenterprise development as a legitimate and effective economic development strategy.
  • OMEN’s membership grows to over 40 members
  • OMEN creates and increases partnerships with financial institutions, foundations and local governments.

2002:

  • OMEN receives SBA PRIME funds and matches the grant with State Lottery OECDD economic development funds, re-granting the funds to ten (10) organizational members.
  • OMEN is now a State Microenterprise Intermediary (SMI) and State Microenterprise Association (SMA).
  • The organization launched a statewide web-based data collection system that allowed OMEN to report on service delivery outcomes s statewide.

2003:

  • OMEN holds trainings for microenterprise development practitioners to share best practices, strategize and network.
  • Publication of the second Membership Guide &  Directory
  • VISTA Asset Building Corps grows to 10-15 VISTA volunteers.
  • Community    Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are utilized by OMEN members in partnership with OECDD and local governments to expand services to entrepreneurs.

2004:

  • OMEN moves offices from its Eugene residential headquarters of Bill Goldsmith’s home to co-locate with the Association of Oregon Community Development  Organizations (AOCDO).
  • Bill Goldsmith retires from OMEN and Valerie Plummer was hired as Program Manager.
  • OMEN begins partnering with City of Portland Bureau of Housing and Community Development on its Economic Opportunity Initiative.

2005:

  • The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) partners with OMEN to host its national conference in Portland to provide best practices training to over 700 small business practitioners from around the county.
  • OMEN’s Board of Directors develops a three-year Strategic Plan
  • Valerie Plummer is hired as OMEN’s Executive Director.
  • OMEN partners with Rural Development Initiatives in Connecting Oregon for rural Entrepreneurship (CORE) with a $2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

2006:

  • Membership grows to over 70 members
  • OMEN launches MarketLink Access to Markets service for entrepreneurs statewide.
  • Statewide VISTA program continues to be key resource for Asset Building organizations throughout Oregon.
  • In partnership with Aspen Institute, OMEN brings MicroTest outcomes  evaluation to Oregon.

2007:

  • OMEN launches CapitalLink loan fund in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust and US Bank – links rural small business service providers to centralized capital access.
  • Individual Development Account (IDA) project launched in partnership with rural OMEN members and CASA of Oregon.
  • OMEN spearheads development of small business legislation during 2007 Legislative Session; hosts Rural Oregon Day in conjunction with several partners.

2008:

  • OMEN has a 5-person team and improved capacity.
  • The OMEN Board of Directors adopt a 2009-2011 three-year Strategic Plan.
  • Valerie Plummer is elected to national AEO Board of Directors.
  • OMEN hosts Northwest Summit on Entrepreneurship, a regional training conference with over 130 attendees.

2009:

  • OMEN participates in a collaborative legislative effort in the 2009 Legislative Session.
  • OMEN publishes the 2009 Public Education Document, a tool to educate policy makers and funders about the importance of microenterprise as a tool for economic development.
  • OMEN expands its VISTA program with funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, increasing the number of VISTAs from 12 to 20 for the 2009-2010 year of service.
  • OMEN revamps its website and increases its web presence to offer greater access to services for entrepreneurs and microenterprise development organizations.
  • OMEN receives funding from the Collins Foundation to support its administrative capacity and expand member services.
  • OMEN expands its MarketLink program to additional partners in rural areas, such as Rogue Community College and Clatsop Community College Small Business Development Centers with funding from Sterling Savings Bank.