Central Oregon MicroEnterprise facilitation introduces Enterprise Facilitation to Central Oregon.

Central Oregon MicroEnterprise Facilition

The Central Oregon MicroEnterprise Facilitation project serves as a community-led economic development approach to cultivate locally grown microenterprise businesses in Central Oregon (See Map). This project has been funded by the generous donations from Meyer Memorial Trust, Oregon Economic and Community Development  Department, City of Maupin and USDA Rural Development.

A microenterprise is a business with fewer than five employees and startup costs are less than $35,000. COME captures the passion and skills of self-motivated entrepreneurs to create and expand successful microenterprises that results in a resilient economy that provides a diversity of good economic opportunities for all citizens. The projects outcome after the first two years is an estimated 50 new business and businesses assisted. 

Currently Wy'East is recruiting an Enterprise Facilitator to assist entrepreneurs. Click here for more information.

Community leadership is essential to the establishment in the Central Oregon MicroEnterprise Facilitation program. Without local endorsement, understanding and management, nothing can happen. This is how it works:

• A community based Mentoring Board comprised of civic leaders’ community professionals and economic development practitioners in Central Oregon guides the project.
• The Mentoring Board hires and supports the training of an Enterprise Facilitator who is the catalyst to assist and encourage local entrepreneurs.
• The Sirolli Institute trains the Mentoring Board and Enterprise Facilitator on how to implement the program.
• The Enterprise Facilitator provides intensive, one-on-one business coaching and networking assistance, linking entrepreneurs to programs and resources offered by other service providers in the region and Oregon.
• The service is available for free, and in confidence to any community member with an idea for starting or expanding a business.

Why Enterprise Facilitation will be Successful in Central Oregon.

Currently, Enterprise Facilitation has been implemented in 15 communities in California, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, British Columbia, and Ontario. Wy’East Council members have visited Enterprise Facilitation projects in Wallowa and Baker Counties in Oregon. We believe the COME project can achieve the same level of success as the sampling of the following ongoing projects.

Baker County BEGIN, Oregon (5½years in operation)

• Population 16,743
• New jobs created or impacted 209
• Average cost of job less than $2,400
• New businesses created, expanded or retained 202
• Sustainability rate 93%
• Average Program Cost per Year after Initial 2 Year Period - $75,000

Collaboration with Other Programs. Enterprise Facilitation works hand in hand with existing economic development services such as revolving loan fund programs, business incubation centers, research and technical assistance programs. By working one-on-one with would-be entrepreneurs, Enterprise Facilitation helps to pre-qualify loan applicants and helps communities to identify the gaps in their existing incentive programs.

Why this project does not duplicate existing services. This project acknowledges the perception that Enterprise Facilitation duplicates Small Business Development Centers’ programs. Roy Miller, Director of New Mexico's Small Business Development Centers points out that the Sirolli concept does not duplicate other available services. Instead, the enterprise facilitator is the point of contact and acts as a filter, providing a more organized approach to take advantage of community resources. However, in the words of Miller, "It's not a pie, it's a casserole. And we're all in there together. The market is too big for one entity there aren't enough hours and there is too much demand. So anything we can do to leverage our resources is good. We all have the same goal, to put people in business so they last."

For more information, call Wy’East Resource Conservation & Development at 541-296-2391 x117

 Welcome to the WyEast Enterprise Facilitation Training site.

Sirolli Institute Enterprise Facilitation Training Web Site.  Like the pioneers of the Oregon Trail, you're the first to break ground in rural community development using this format of internet and conferencing technology, as well as the self-paced and remotely delivered content. Congratulations on your leadership example to your community and to many people following in your footsteps.