Oregon Microenterprise Network

The 2011 Summit on Entrepreneurship was a big success.  With relevant presentations, inspirational stories, and updates on the microenterprise industry, attendees were armed with new resources and connections for serving Oregon’s small business owners.  Below you will find the presentations and other materials for your reference.  The Summit also serves as OMEN’s annual meeting and board elections.  For the newly elected board, please click here.

A special Thank You to our generous event sponsors:  Enterprise Cascadia, CFED, Oregon Business Development Department, and OnPoint Community Credit Union!

Two programs were added to this year’s event.

We heard from Featured Entrepreneur Mary Stevenson who owns Earth and Vine Wine Bar and Art Gallery in Baker City.  Mary is the perfect picture of how practitioners can help and support a small business.  She is a client of the North East Oregon Economic Development District in Enterprise, OR.  Mary has worked with OMEN Board Member Lisa Dawson for technical assistance and has built her assets through an IDA (Individual Development Account).

OMEN presented three awards at the Summit:  The Rising Star Award was presented to NEDCO (Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation) of Eugene for their brilliant and systematic addition of microenterprise development services to their original menu of housing-related services.  The Guiding Star Award was presented to Adelante Mujeres of Forest Grove for their leadership, innovation, and constant demonstration of best practices in the microenterprise field.  The Small Business Champion Award was presented to Representative Jefferson Smith of Portland for his unwavering belief in the power of small business and his tireless advocacy for support to small business owners in Oregon.

Materials from Microenterprise Boot Camp (10/12/11) (click to see list)

Presentations from Key Note and Break Out Sessions (10/13/11)

2011 OMEN Annual Meeting

2011 Summit Key Note Address

It Takes a Village to Raise a Business

Evaluating to Learn

Redefining the Triple Bottom Line

A, B, Si’s of Creating Opportunity for Latino Entrepreneurs

What If?

Oregon Resources for Food Entrepreneurs

• Take Your Recipe to Market with PCC
• Get Your Recipe to Market

Click here for more information.

Click here for posting – applications due Friday, 7/1/11

See the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce VISTA position here.

Contact Margot at margot@oregon-microbiz.org if you have any questions!

Read about the latest news, events, resources, and funding opportunities here.

Read about another CapitalLink success story!

Garden Of Ink

Are you an energetic, creative, and hard-working individual with a desire to create positive change in the community you live in?

The Oregon Asset Building Corps (OABC) is a part of a national service movement committed to battling poverty. OABC AmeriCorps*VISTAs serve for a year at nonprofit organizations that focus on increasing the assets of low-income Oregonians.   AmeriCorps*VISTAs develop programs that fight poverty in a ways that are sustainable and build the capacity of their host organization. They help develop new programs, make already existing programs more efficient, and sustain those programs by augmenting the resources the program uses. OMEN has managed the OABC program for the last nine years and the work of these members has helped over 30 organizations and agencies establish new programs and take existing programs to the next level in their anti-poverty work.

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA Member who serves full-time with no outside commitments, you are eligible to receive the following benefits:

*Approximately between $10,296-$10,692 for the year over 26 pay periods (VISTAs working within Multnomah county are paid the higher living stipend to reflect the higher cost of living. VISTAs working in any other county receive the lower living stipend)
*A $5,500 Education award or $1,500 cash stipend upon completion of service
*Student loan forbearance
*10 Vacation and 10 Personal days
*Healthcare Coverage
*Relocation Reimbursement
*Non-competitive job eligibility for federal positions
*Professional development trainings and networking events

OMEN is currently searching to fill 21 OABC AmeriCorps*VISTA positions throughout Oregon at the following host sites:

- Adelante Mujeres
- Bienestar CDC
- City of Independence
- City of Junction City
- City of St. Helens
- Community Energy Project
- Economic Opportunity Initiative
- Financial Beginnings
- Hacienda CDC
- Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public Charter School
- McMinnville Economic Development Partnership
- MicroEnterprise Resources, Initiatives and Training (MERIT)
- Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO)
- Oregon Opportunity Network
- Oregon Microenterprise Network
- Pendleton Chamber of Commerce
- Portland Community Gardens Program
- Portland State University Business Outreach Program
- Rural Development Initiatives
- Salem-Keizer CDC
- Ten Rivers Food Web

Host Sites began recruiting April 1st, so apply now! To apply, follow the steps below

1. Visit http://www.americorps.gov/.
2. Look for the “Join AmeriCorps” box to the right and Click on ‘advanced opportunity search”(in white text ).
3. Select ‘AmeriCorps VISTA’ as the program type,
4. Select ‘Oregon’ as the state, type the word ‘OMEN’ in the program name box.
5. Select one of the OMEN listings to read the position description for that site.
6. A large red ‘apply now’ button will be near the bottom left of the page.

2011-2012 OABC AmeriCorps*VISTAs will attend Pre-Service Orientation from August 22nd-25th and will serve at their host sites on from August 26th, 2011- August 24th 2012.

Need more information on OMEN or the Asset Building VISTA Corps? Please go to http://www.oregon-microbiz.org/programs/oregon-asset-building-corps/ or contact the VISTA Leader at margot@oregon-microbiz.org.

Already been a VISTA and interested in another year of service? OMEN is also recruiting for a VISTA Leader to provide support, resource development, mentorship, and training for the members of OMEN’s Asset Building VISTA Corps. The VISTA leader will work to expand the capacity of OMEN to serve the Asset Building VISTA Corps and member organizations. To qualify, you must have completed a year of service with AmeriCorps*VISTA.

Questions about the VISTA Leader position? Please contact the VISTA Leader at margot@oregon-microbiz.org.

Director report March 2011

OMEN 2011-2012 Resource Guide and Membership Directory PDF

OMEN just sent out the 2011-2012 Resource Guide and Membership Directory Survey to members and affiliates.  If your organization received a survey please take a moment to respond.

Your organization will receive up to one full page listing in the Directory, which will be printed and distributed widely to entrepreneurs throughout Oregon and published online here at OMEN’s website, www.oregon-microbiz.org.
OMEN will use the data collected from this survey to:

• inform policy efforts undertaken by OMEN and its members, all of whom are concerned with developing and advocating for the microenterprise field;
• promote microenterprise as a significant local and statewide economic development strategy;
• provide funders and investors with a better understanding of market trends and how they can support the field; and
• allow you to place your experience in context with that of peers statewide.

A high response rate yields more valid and valuable data for the microenterprise industry. To that end, we appeal you to take a few minutes to complete the survey and we thank you for your kind support and timely response.

To view a PDF of this survey

OMEN 2011-2012 Resource Guide and Membership Directory PDF

Assistant Director Job Description – OMEN

TO APPLY:

Please submit a cover letter and resume detailing your training, education and experience as they relate to the duties, responsibilities and minimum requirements of the position.  Screening of applications will begin immediately.  This position will remain open until filled.

See Full Article Here.

Check out more information and the full budget here.

As part of a partnership between OMEN and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the Oregon Asset Building Corps (OABC) is comprised of 12-16 AmeriCorps*VISTA members per year, who work to develop the capacity of the OMEN affiliate host site organization at which they are placed.  VISTA projects are often those projects that organizations have been envisioning for some time but need a person with energy and drive to get them started.  OABC VISTAs have worked on projects such as starting a homebuyer’s education class or creating resources for entrepreneurs to start or grow their businesses.

The most important aspect of these projects is that they increase the capacity of the host organization in a way that is sustainable for years beyond the VISTA term of service. To learn more about becoming a host-site, click here.  See below for  the 2011-2012  Request for Proposals document , Host Site Application Form, and Volunteer Assignment Description Template! Please contact Margot Edmiston, OMEN VISTA Leader at by phone at 503-546-9913 or by e-mail at Margot@oregon-microbiz.org with questions.

Applications are due to OMEN via e-mail by 5:00 pm on February 18th, 2011.

2011-2012 VISTA Host Site Request for Proposals

2011-2012 VISTA Host Site Application Form

Volunteer Assignment Description (VAD) Template

They are among more than 1,600 Oregonians who’ve learned better savings habits by completing the Oregon Individual Development Account program.

Read the Oregonian’s published article here.

Read the Oregon Center for Public Policy’s recently published article here.

Click here to see the current OMEN Board Roster

Former OMEN VISTA, Lee Warnecke, and current OMEN VISTA, Landon Hoyt, were recently interviewed by the Springfield Times about their work with small businesses in downtown Springfield.  Lee and Landon work with NEDCO, Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation, an OMEN member in Springfield, Oregon.  To read the full article, click here.  To learn more about OMEN’s VISTA program, click here.

CDBG 2010 2nd Quarter Award AnnouncementsThe Oregon Business Development Department (OBDD) recently awarded more than $4 million dollars in grants to ten city and county projects.  The grants from the Oregon Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program will assist Oregon communities with funding for important community infrastructure projects around the State, as detailed below.   The recently funded projects include community facilities, microenterprise assistance, wastewater and water projects.  Applications for the 3rd quarter are due September 30, 2010 and will be announced in November 2010.

The Community Development Block Grant program supports a variety of local projects and services aimed at improving community livability for citizens with low to moderate income.

Community/Public Facility projects ($1,800,000):

Malheur County – Domestic Violence Shelter    $1,000,000

City of Oakridge – Library     $   800,000

Public Works projects ($2,025,500):

City of Canyonville – Wastewater System Final Design      $   700,000

City of Powers – Wastewater System Final Design   $   725,000

City of Stanfield – Water System Final Design   $   302,000

City of Amity – Water Master Plan     $   150,000

City of Nyssa – Wastewater Collection Plan   $   148,500

Microenterprise Assistance ($227,496):

Union County – Microenterprise Assistance    $     37,500

City of Independence – Microenterprise Assistance           $     90,000

City of Junction City – Microenterprise Assistance   $     99,996

TOTAL GRANT DOLLARS AWARDED:    $4,052,996

OBDD is accepting applications until September 30, 2010 for the CDBG program’s 3rd quarter competitive application round.  Award decisions for the 3rd quarter will be made in November 2010.

Since the early 1980’s, OBDD has administered the State of Oregon’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The program serves non-metropolitan cities and counties of Oregon.  OBDD reviews applications for funding under the Community Development Block Grant program on a quarterly basis or until all funds available for the year have been obligated.

For further information about the Oregon Community Development Block Grant program, please contact OBDD or visit

http://www.orinfrastructure.org/

In conjunction with The Regence Group, Hacienda CDC cordially invites you to join them for their second annual night of food, music, dancing, and fun! Tickets include live entertainment, tamales prepared by Hacienda’s own Micro Mercantes participants, raffle prizes, and more! Help celebrate the accomplishments of our community and continue to address the important challenges we face in housing, community economic development, and youth development.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS: Please visit www.haciendacdc.org or contact Dianne at 503-961-6403

Click here to view the invitation!

About $45 million will be awarded nationwide, and the first deadline for
RMAP applications is July 16.  Although there will be future funding rounds,
it is likely that the availability of funds will shrink and the competition
for funds will increase, so prospective RMAP applicants are strongly
encouraged to apply by the first deadline, August 16 (previously July 16).

If you were thinking about applying for USDA Rural Development’s newly-minted RMAP program, but missed the July 16 application deadline, take heart.  USDA has decided to re-open the first round application period, with
the new deadline of August 16, 2010:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-18639.pdf

(If August 16 is still too soon for you, the next deadline after August 16
will be September 30; and thereafter, quarterly applications may be
submitted.)

For those of you who have been following the RMAP story closely, you may be
interested to know that the number of applications received nationwide by
the initially-set July 16 deadline for the RMAP Loan program total was LESS
than the loan funds available.  By contrast, the RMAP “TA-Only” Grant
program is heavily oversubscribed, so new applications for these grants will
be entering an already very competitive field.

USDA Rural Development recently unveiled its Rural Microentrepreneur
Assistance Program (RMAP).  This program provides low interest loans to
capitalize microloan funds and provides technical assistance grants to
support such funds; there is also a small grant-only program to support
technical assistance delivery to microenterprises in need of such financing.

Nonprofits, tribes, and institutions of higher learning are eligible for
RMAP assistance.  Public bodies and local governments are NOT eligible for
this program.

Details about the new program first appeared in the Federal Register as a
notice inviting applications on June 3, and as an interim final rule on May
28.  You can find links to both of these key documents here:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/or/rmap.htm

An announcement from USDA Rural Development regarding the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) Program:

Click here to read the Kauffman Foundation Research Series report on “The Importance of Startups in Job Creation and Job Destruction.”

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued an amended NoFA for PRIME that includes the following updates to the original NoFA:

1. Provide interested entities with the opportunity to apply for funding under any of the three PRIME tracks as follows:

• Track 1 Funding for provision of business based technical assistance for disadvantaged Microentrepreneurs
• Track 2 Funding for Capacity Building
• Track 3 Funding for Research and Development of Best Practices in the Field of Microenterprise Development

2. Application deadline extended to July 30th, 2010.

To view the full program announcement, click here.  Applications must be submitted online at www.grants.gov.

For more information about the PRIME program, visit the SBA’s website here:
http://www.sba.gov/financialassistance/prospectivelenders/prime/index.html

Innovations in Asset-Building: Learning from $aveNYC
Wednesday, July 21 from 2 – 3:30pm EDT

Please join us for a webinar on a pioneering strategy for connecting low-income households, including the self-employed, to asset-building opportunities. Tax time represents a unique opportunity to help low income households, including the self employed, to save for the future. Throughout the United States, the thousands of free tax assistance sites have long struggled to connect low and moderate income families with asset building opportunities, while staying true to their mission of delivering high quality tax preparation services.

Since 2008, the City of New York has offered low income tax filers a unique matched savings opportunity called the $aveNYC Account. The $aveNYC Account provides a 50 percent match to filers at select free tax preparation sites who commit to a full year of savings. This initiative is intended to test the impact of an innovative policy idea: using tax-linked savings incentives to leverage medium-term savings for consumer-designated purposes. This initiative is designed for those tax filers who generally receive a significant tax refund.

This webinar will present a basic overview of the $aveNYC initiative, preliminary findings from the first two years of implementation and provide concrete suggestions for implementing similar asset building programs at tax sites throughout the country. You will also hear from Ariva, a South Bronx-based nonprofit that has participated in the $aveNYC initiative for the past two years, for both their wage-earning and self-employed customers.

This webinar is appropriate for practitioners who want to create new asset-building programs for this tax season.

Speakers will include representatives from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) and from Ariva, a South Bronx-based nonprofit that filed more than 800 free tax returns for self-employed filers and opened 302 $aveNYC accounts this year. Ariva is a CFED local partner in the Self-Employment Tax Initiative (SETI). OFE is the first local government initiative in the nation with a mission to educate, empower, and protect residents with low incomes so they can build assets and make the most of their financial resources.

Register Now!

To register for the Innovations in Asset-Building Webinar, click here. There is no cost to participate, but advanced registration is required. For more information, please contact Patrick Hain (202.207.0141, phain@cfed.org).

Click here to register for the One Page Business Plan and/or MicroMentor webinars.

Click here to download the 2010 OMEN Member Impact Report.

Adelante Mujeres has been selected as a finalist for a Green Grant Award by the national nonprofit Green America. Based on hundreds of nominations of projects across the country, Green America staff selected 10 top projects that benefit people and the planet in local communities and is asking people to vote for their favorites. Adelante Mujeres is the only project based on the West Coast that was nominated. People can vote at http://www.greenamericatoday.org/greengrants/index_voting.cfm through July 19.
Green America will award four Green Grants to local projects in the United States that support its mission of creating a socially just and environmentally sustainable economy. Green America will provide one Grand Prize of $2,500 and three First Prizes of $1,000 in late July. If Adelante Mujeres is selected for a grant, the funds will go towards a restoration and farmscaping project at La Esperanza Farm, a collective farm managed by Adelante Agricultura, the sustainable farming program of Adelante Mujeres.  For more information on Adelante Mujeres, please visit www.adelantemujeres.org.

Register for the 2010 Oregon Summit on Entrepreneurship!  Click here to visit the registration page.  Click here to visit OMEN’s Summit website with more detailed event information!

Click here for information on applying for the PRIME program.

Please visit this link to read the article featured in today’s Metro section of the Oregonian newspaper.
 
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/anna_griffin/index.ssf/2010/06/jimmys_corner_of_north_fremont.html
 
The entrepreneur was assisted by MicroEnterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), and he has a commitment to his local community that typifies so many of Portland’s best small businesses.

The Oregon Microenterprise Network congratulates three OMEN members who are receiving special recognition this week from the Small Business Administration.
 
Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award:
John Lopez, Director for Rogue Community College SBDC
 
Women in Business Champion of the Year for the NW Region and Oregon
Maggie Finnerty, Executive Director and Clinical Law Professor, Lewis and Clark Small Business Legal Clinic
 
Home-based Business Champion of the Year for Oregon
Shawn Winkler-Rios, Executive Director, Entrepreneurial Development Services, eDev
 
Full press release is available here.  For more information about the SBA, see www.sba.gov/or

Click here for the FIELD Institute’s searchable microenterprise program directory.

Click here to view a PDF of the 2010 income limits.

Click here to read OMEN’s press release.

Click here for details.

Click here to register.

Click here to read OPB’s article Self Employment Instead of Unemployment

Click here to read more.

Click here to view PRIME webinar resources.

In today’s Oregonian.

Click here to read the press release.

Click here to read about OMEN’s stance on the proposed Economic Gardening bill.

Click here to read the PDF on Cultivating Oregon’s High-Potential Businesses.

OMEN is seeking applications to become a VISTA host site from organizations that are working with microenterprise development, financial literacy and asset building.  Approved sites will recruit a full-time VISTA volunteer who will serve at their site from August 20th, 2010 to August 19th, 2011.  Applications must be received at the OMEN office by 5:00 PM on Friday, February 19th, 2010.  Sites will be notified of their acceptance by March 12th, 2010.  Click here to download the application instructions and forms.  Click here to read the press release.

With generous support from the US Small Business Administration, OMEN is offering a range of services to help organizations build their capacity and increase service to entrepreneurs statewide. Participating organizations are offered the following menu of services from which to build their unique service delivery platform. In exchange for services, participating organizations will report on benchmarks to OMEN on a quarterly basis through September 30th, 2010.  Please click here to read more about the services OMEN is offering, or here to enroll in PRIME.

Click here!

Click here!

Member Application

Renewal Invoice

Membership Renewal Letter

2009-2010 Member Benefits

Click here to download the free toolkit for small business accounting.

Click here to read the report!