Economic Development Council | Helping islands businesses to thrive

Inventor Workshop

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Are you an inventor with a product idea?
Get your product geared up during the
EDC/NWIRC Inventor Workshop!

Inventors, join the San Juan County Economic Development Council and the Northwest Innovation Resource Center for a dynamic half-day workshop on getting your product idea to market.  Featuring experts in Intellectual Property, Design Thinking, Prototyping, Manufacturing, Crowdfunding and more, this workshop will give you the tools you need to get your invention to the next level.

The workshop will cover:
– Researching your product idea
– Using the design thinking process for rapid prototyping
– Prototyping your product with every day objects
– Manufacturing processes for different materials
– Using crowdfunding (validate your market & sell product)

Class is closed….hope to see you next time!

Date:  Wednesday, April 22nd, 10:30a-3:30p
Location:  Outlook Inn, Orcas Island
Cost:  $45 includes lunch & materials

Questions?  360-378-2906 or info@sanjuansedc.org

Women’s Business Boot Camp!

Women entrepreneurs are invited to attend the EDC’s Women’s Business Boot Camp, a half-day workshop specifically designed to tune up or start-up businesses, on January 19th on Orcas Island. Participants will learn how to write or revamp a business plan, find funding, learn about marketing and networking, learn about government programs, and much more.

The workshop features speakers from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, and the EDC. Instructors will bring presentations and materials specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses, and to find funding specifically for women-owned businesses. This workshop will provide women with clear and practical knowledge to battle difficult business challenges, making their businesses stronger.

WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT!  Please check out our upcoming Vision Mapping Workshop:  www.sanjuansedc.org/vision.

The EDC thanks Emmanuel Episcopal Church for providing the venue, and Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, and the Ports of Friday Harbor and Lopez for their support of the EDC’s programs.

Questions:  360-378-2906 • info@sanjuansedc.org

Everything L&I

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L&I Workshop!

Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) and the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for a FREE workshop on “Everything L&I”, on Wednesday, March 4 from 9-11 a.m.

 In this workshop, business owners and entrepreneurs will learn everything they need to know to ensure their businesses are in compliance with current state regulations and reporting requirements.  Attendees will learn how to obtain an L&I account, how to determine whether workers are employees or independent contractors, how to control costs, what risk classifications and experience ratings can mean, and how to report.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Led by Chris Alcatraz, Employer Services Outreach Specialist at the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries and the Labor & Industries Employer Services Outreach Team, the workshop will be offered simultaneously on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands, and videoconferenced from the San Juan Island Library.

Details:  Videoconferenced live on Wednesday, March 4th from 9-11 at the Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island Libraries.  Refreshments will be served and printed materials will be available to take away.   Advance registration is required.

Please click here to register.

Call 360-378-2906  email:  info@sanjuansedc.org for more information.

The EDC thanks Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor and the Port of Lopez for supporting our Business Education Series.   This workshop is not sponsored by the San Juan Island Library.

FREE Business Planning & Financing Workshop

The San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a FREE workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on San Juan Island, on Tuesday, March 22nd from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.  Advance registration is required.

The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by Tony Salas, of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, a management consultant for over a decade.

As part of the workshop, Salas will cover business financing, discuss a variety of financing options and will provide a reality check for those considering a new or expanded business venture.   He will be available for one-on-one consultation after the workshop.

Participants in the workshop will leave with the resources and support they need to create a business plan including a realistic financial plan.  In addition, Salas will cover current federal and Washington State tax incentive programs for small businesses.

Details: San Juan Island, on Tuesday, March 22nd from 10:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.  at Heritage Bank in Friday Harbor.

Advance registration is required.

Please click here to register.

Call 360-378-2906  email:  info@sanjuansedc.org for more information.

The EDC thanks Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Ports of Friday Harbor, Orcas, and Lopez for supporting our Business Education Series.

Exporting Workshop

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Did you know 95 percent of your potential customers live outside of the United States?  Learn how to connect with them in this informative, in-depth workshop on exporting.

Offered in partnership with the San Juan County Economic Development Council, the Washington Export Outreach Team (a part of EFACWA) invites you to attend a workshop entitled Export 101: From Your Door to the World.  In the workshop, you’ll learn ways to access local exporting resources and advisers to grow your business – getting your products and services out of your own backyard and into the rich global marketplace.  This all-day seminar covers:

•  Developing an export business plan
•  Determining appropriate international markets
•  Finding qualified buyers, agents, and distributors
•  Determining pricing and methods of payment
•  Mitigating non-payment risks and financing export transactions
•  Shipping your product

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Avenue, Bellingham WA

 Cost: $65, Materials and lunch will be provided

 Space is limited.  Click here to reserve your space.

Business Entity Workshop

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The San Juan County Economic Development Council, in partnership with Islanders Bank and Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, will present a free workshop on choosing a business entity.

When starting or building a business, many entrepreneurs wonder which entity is right for their businesses – should they create an S corporation, a C corporation, a limited partnership, a sole proprietorship or an LLC?  Making the right choice is a critical part of ensuring future business success and protecting business owners from some liabilities.

Join in an up-close look at the various business entities.   Covered will be topics such as: What tax advantages does each entity offer?  What personal liability does each entity expose a business owner to?  Will forming a certain type of entity give the business more credibility with customers?  How does citizenship affect entity options?  Will there be business losses for the first few years…or investors in the years to come, and how could that affect a choice of business entity?

All of these issues, and more, are covered in this workshop led by Chris Compton, CPA at Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPA’s.  Mr. Compton has worked as a CPA for over 11 years, moving to Friday Harbor from Alaska with his wife, Anna.

Details:  Wednesday, January 28 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the San Juan Island Library.  The event is co-hosted by the San Juan County Economic Development Council, Islanders Bank and Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPA’s.  Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email:  info@sanjuansedc.org.  The class will be offered on Orcas Island in the fall.

QuickBooks Tips class

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The San Juan County Economic Development Council, in partnership with Islanders Bank and Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, will present a free workshop on QuickBooks tips.

Accounting software is a critical tool in successfully running any small business, and QuickBooks is one of the most popular programs for entrepreneurs.  While QuickBooks allows business owners to keep track of their company’s transactions fairly intuitively, users can manage finances much more successfully using key shortcuts, advanced features and by learning the accuracy, setup and efficiency tips taught in this class.

Chris Compton, CPA at Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs will lead the class.  Mr. Compton has worked as a CPA for over 11 years, moving to Friday Harbor from Alaska with his wife, Anna.

Details:  Wednesday, January 7 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the San Juan Island Library.  The event is hosted by Islanders Bank.  Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email:  info@sanjuansedc.org.  The class will be offered later in the year on Orcas Island.

The EDC thanks Islanders Bank, Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, San Juan County government, Whidbey Island Bank, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor and the Port of Lopez for supporting our Business Education Series.  This event is not sponsored by San Juan Island Library.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.   The EDC works to build an environment that helps business owners create jobs.  We serve business:  linking organizations and resources, providing valuable information, rendering assistance and advocating for an improved island business environment.   


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