Crowdfunding Workshop offered on Orcas Island
Crowdfunding is an exciting way for entrepreneurs to ask for monetary pledges from individuals using online services like Kickstarter. Learn how to procure money for your business through crowdfunding during an informative workshop offered by the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) on Thursday, March 17th from 9:30-11:30am at the Orcas Island Public Library.
Crowdfunding has significantly expanded the way that small U.S. companies can raise growth funds, launch new products and find new customers. But the legal and disclosure requirements for seeking crowdfunding, the type of liability and the crowdfunding platforms can be difficult to navigate for small businesses.
The presentation led by EDC director and marketer Victoria Compton, will cover Crowdfunding law, how much money companies can raise (and where they can raise it), and how to set up a crowdfunding campaign on a crowdfunding site.
Details: Thursday, March 17th from 9:30-11:30am at the Orcas Island Public Library in Eastsound. Materials and snacks are included, cost: $20 per person. Advance registration is required; for tickets click here:
For more information: 360-378-2906 or email info@sanjuansedc.org.
Want to plan better for retirement or to know if what you are doing currently is sufficient? Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for a free informative workshop and one-on-one session with a certified financial planner on Friday, February 12, from 11a.m.-1p.m. Advance registration is required.
The workshop course material will be presented by Tom Zebroski, Certified Financial Planner Professional, member of the Financial Planning Association, and an Accredited Asset Management Specialist with Columbia River Advisors in Bellevue, WA.
Mr. Zebroski will cover general financial planning, how to get out of debt, how to manage credit, and how to save for retirement. Topics covered will include a consideration of how to mitigate impacts from San Juan County’s cyclical economy. Through this workshop, attendees will get a clearer picture of their current financial situations and future planning. Mr. Zebroski will also be available after the workshop for one-on-on sessions.
Details: Friday, February 12, from 11a.m.-1p.m. at the Senior Center at 589 Nash Street in Friday Harbor. Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email: info@sanjuansedc.org.
The EDC thanks the Washington State Department of Commerce, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Ports of Friday Harbor, Lopez and Orcas, Island Market, Heritage Bank and Islanders Bank for their support. This event is not sponsored by the San Juan Island Public Library.
Crowdfunding Workshop offered by the San Juan County EDC
Crowdfunding is an exciting way for entrepreneurs to ask for monetary pledges from individuals using online services like Kickstarter. Learn how to procure money for your business through crowdfunding during an informative workshop offered by the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) on Monday, February 8th from 9:30-11:30am at the San Juan Island Public Library.
Crowdfunding has significantly expanded the way that small U.S. companies can raise growth funds, launch new products and find new customers. But the legal and disclosure requirements for seeking crowdfunding, the type of liability and the crowdfunding platforms can be difficult to navigate for small businesses.
The presentation led by EDC director and marketer Victoria Compton, will cover Crowdfunding law, how much money companies can raise (and where they can raise it), and how to set up a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.
Details: Monday, February 8th from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the San Juan Island Public Library at 1010 Guard Street in Friday Harbor. Materials and snacks are included, cost: $20 per person. Advance registration is required; for tickets click here:
For more information: 360-378-2906 or email info@sanjuansedc.org.
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is excited to announce the winners of their second annual business plan competition, Launch San Juan Islands. The winners and all finalists were lauded at an awards luncheon at Cynthia’s Restaurant in Friday Harbor, on November 29, 2016.
For first prize, Addie Miller (San Juan Island) was awarded $2,000 for her underwear company, Tush & Bush.
For second prize, Kristine Brown (San Juan Island) was awarded $1,300 for the online design and printing spinoff of Printonyx, tentatively called IslePrint.online.
For third prize, three winners were awarded $200 each: Aunde Cornely of San Juan Island for a boudoir photography company called Embodied Spirit, Claudia Bradley of Lopez Island for a sewing and repair company called Sew What!, and Shannon Borg of San Juan Island for a digital marketing company that promotes sustainable culinary arts businesses called Oysterous & Vine. The prize money will go toward specific deliverables in the participants’ business plans.
Donations from the following businesses and individuals made this event possible: Mark Madsen, Gary Franklin, Valmark, John Gresseth Architect, Steve Hushebeck, Gretchen Staehlin, Jonathan Piff, Earthbox Inn & Spa, Bill Appel, Luxel, Charlie Bodenstab, Farhad Ghatan, and Victoria Compton.
All participants received instruction in business planning and marketing, plus follow-up mentoring. The goal of the two-month competition was to help every participating entrepreneur to advance their business, and the competition will be held annually.
Government Contracts Workshop
Are you interested in doing business with the government?
Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for a two-hour seminar on San Juan Island, which will provide information on the goods and services that state and federal agencies buy, and information on how they buy them. We’ll also cover San Juan County’s designation as a HUBZone by the Small Business Administration, which gives our businesses an edge over others competing for government contracts.
Tracy Hansen, PTAC Assistant from the Thurston County Economic Development Council, will give you the tools to begin the process of pursuing opportunities with federal and state government. Workshop includes an overview of how the federal and state governments buy goods and services, governmental registrations, how to conduct market research to understand your government customer, how agencies advertise their procurements, small business programs and certifications, and much more.
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 11am – 1pm. Cost: $15. Advance registration required. Sponsored by the San Juan County Economic Development Council and hosted by Key Bank 95 Second Street in Friday Harbor. Click Paypal link below to reserve your space!
First semi-annual San Juan Islands Made member meeting.
The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) welcomes members of the San Juan Islands Made initiative and interested business owners to join in the EDC’s first semi-annual San Juan Islands Made member meeting. The meeting will be on Monday, November 30th from 10-11:30am, and will be held simultaneously on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands via videoconference.
Members of the San Juan Islands Ag Guild will also be present to help discuss ways that the EDC’s San Juan Islands Made initiative can partner with the Ag Guild’s Island Grown program.
The San Juan Islands Made brand was established by the EDC to help protect the integrity and value of locally manufactured, fished and timbered goods. Products bearing the seal are genuine, San Juan Islands-made premium products. More information is available at www.sanjuanislandsmade.com.
Island Grown in the San Juans was founded by the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, whose mission is to foster a vibrant, resilient and sustainable local agriculture and food system in San Juan County, Washington. More information is available at www.islandgrownsj.com.
Details: The member meeting will be held simultaneously on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands via videoconference at the libraries, on Monday, November 30th, from 10-11:30am. To reserve your space, please call (360) 378-2906 or email info@sanjuansedc.org.
Want to know what it takes to start and maintain a high performing business? From financing to business plans this is a must do for anyone who has recently started or is considering to launch a business.
Join us at the Orcas library for this fun and informative session with James McCafferty from the Economic Development Association of Skagit County.
FREE – space is limited—contact us today!
Date: Wednesday, November 18th, 9:00a-12:00p
Location: Orcas Library
What would happen to your business as a result of a major disaster in the San Juan Islands? Are you, your staff, your property and your data prepared?
Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for a workshop on Disaster Preparedness for Business, November 16th from 10-11:30 a.m., at the Orcas Island Fire Department community room.
In this course, participants will learn to prepare their businesses for disasters, and to recover from them. The course will help business owners and managers to review insurance coverage, to prepare for utility disruptions, secure facilities, back up financial records, prepare employees for emergencies, and to create an effective emergency communication plan.
Dave Halloran from the San Juan County Department of Emergency Management and Victoria Compton from the EDC will lead the workshop.
Cosponsored by the EDC, the San Juan County Dept of Emergency Management and the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau.
FREE – space is limited—contact us today!
Date: Monday, November 16th from 10-11:30 a.m.
On Orcas Island at the Orcas Fire Hall community room
Questions: 360-378-2906 • info@sanjuansedc.org
Entrepreneurs, bring your business savvy to the table for the first annual EDC Launch San Juan Islands business plan competition, brought to you by the San Juan County Economic Development Council.
Participants will receive instruction in planning and marketing, follow-up mentoring—and some will win cash prizes to launch their businesses!
Thousands of dollars in cash prizes will be awarded to contest winners this year (please see our website for individual prize levels). Our bigger goal, however, is to help every entrepreneur involved in the contest to advance or improve their business.
The biggest benefit is that participants get the counsel and support they need to get their businesses off to a strong start. The contest is designed to help all participants even if they don’t advance to become finalists.
Our objective is to promote the creation of new businesses in San Juan County, in a way that provides integral help and small financial assistance to the best of those small businesses.
With access to in-depth business seminars and counseling to everyone in the contest, all participants should gain traction with their enterprises and learn what it takes to launch a successful business.
Benefits for All Participants
- Seminars on business planning, marketing, and financing.
- Opportunities to network and collaborate with other entrepreneurs
- Media coverage for contestants.
Benefits for Winners
- All of the above, plus—Cash prizes
- Professional advice from team of experts.
- Follow-up help sessions with experts in finance, marketing, and other business topics.
- Feedback on plans submitted by at least five judges with practical business experience.
Significant publicity for your business through local media and other channels.
How it Works
- Participants must be residents of San Juan County.
- Participants attend classes and tutoring sessions that help them develop their business plans.
- Plans are submitted to judges who evaluate each enterprise.
- Participants with the highest scores move on through the next stage of the contest over the following two months.
- Prize money will be awarded in two stages, the second half after the successful completion of key milestones.
- The contest features a pitch-your-business trade show and a final oral presentation round in November.
- Winners are announced at a gala awards banquet in December.
Launch San Juan Islands will start in October 2019 and run through early December 2019. The cost to participate is $65 due by Oct 5, 2019. This fee covers direct costs for course materials and events.
Click here for scoring sheet…click here for registration form…click here for schedule of activities/events….click here for rules
Questions? Please contact Summer Martin at 360-378-2906 or summer@sanjuansedc.org
EDC, El Centro de Recursos para la Familia de SJI Oferta un Clase Educación Financiera en Español
El Consejo de Desarrollo Económico del Condado de San Juan, en colaboración con el Centro de Recursos para la Familia de San Juan Island ofrecerá un curso gratuito en español sobre la educación financiera. El taller será dirigido por Martha Alvarado, Director del banco de Key Bank Friday Harbor.
El taller se llevará a cabo en el Centro de Recursos para la Familia el jueves 28 de mayo a las 19:00. Comida se le proporcionará. Los temas tratados serán la presupuestación, el ahorro para la jubilación, la reducción de los gastos y más.
La fecha: Jueves, 28 de mayo a 19:00 pm en el Centro de Recursos para la Familia de la Isla de San Juan en 476 Market Street en Friday Harbor.
El Consejo de Desarrollo Económico del Condado de San Juan (EDC) se esfuerza por fortalecer y diversificar la economía del Condado de San Juan. Creemos que una economía fuerte construye una comunidad fuerte. El EDC trabaja para construir un ambiente que ayuda a los propietarios de negocios crean puestos de trabajo. Servimos a empresas: los enlacemos las organizaciones con los recursos que necesitan, proporcionando información valiosa, damos ayuda y nos abogamos para un entorno empresarial mejorado para la isla.