Submitted photo

Nine of the 10 entrepreneurs who participated in the spring 2022 CO.STARTERS program.

Every business in Harney County is essential. Unlike urban areas, which have multiple competing businesses, Harney County relies on each of its small business to serve the needs of the community. The good news is that interest in building successful small businesses is alive and well in Harney County!

This spring, a local program called CO.STARTERS helped 10 entrepreneurs develop skills and build their confidence as small business owners.

These 10 entrepreneurs represent a cross-section of businesses, including a food truck, a videographer, a design agency, a specialty dog breeding kennel, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), in-home healthcare, an ecological monitoring service, a youth group home, and a fluff and fold laundromat. Small business is the backbone of Harney County, and the goal is to help these entrepreneurs succeed so the business owners can follow their dreams and the community can benefit from the services and products that they offer.

An important part of this is community, CO.STARTERS brought entrepreneurs together to learn from each other. The program also engaged local business owners who provided mentorship and connection by sharing their experience.

As one participant stated, “What I found most valuable about CO.STARTERS is all the knowledge you gain from it and the friends you make who can help you in the future.”

The community aspect of this program was a big driver behind Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative’s decision to bring CO.STARTERS to Harney County. It is also why Andrea Letham so passionately facilitates the program.

“I love that CO.STARTERS connects entrepreneurs to seasoned local businesses,” Letham said. “Their experience and wisdom is key to knowing what it takes to run a business in Harney County. Learning from your peers is powerful and meaningful.”

Following 10 weeks of class, many of the entrepreneurs have continued their momentum by joining a goal focused 30-60-90 group, which helps them continue to map out next steps. They also receive one-on-one technical assistance to develop their business plans through Idea Buddy, a business-planning software. This continuation of their entrepreneur education is not surprising. When this group started the program, only 22 percent of them said they felt like they knew what their next steps were. Now, 100 percent do.

A program participant said, “I just think that everyone should go through this program before starting a business. It made you think of the right questions and how to structure your business so that it would be successful. I have taken several business classes, but they have not been as hands-on or thorough as this one.”

For budding entrepreneurs out there, CO.STARTERS will be offered again this September. If you are interested in joining the fall cohort, contact Andrea Letham at aletham.sbdc@gmail.com or register online at: reinventingrural.com/costarters/core/. CO.STARTERS is funded in part by a grant from Business Oregon. There is a suggested donation of $50 for participating in the program.