The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are working together to gauge the level of demand for a small business incubator in the Pendleton area. What is an incubator? Business incubators nurture the development of small businesses, helping them survive and grow during the start-up period, when they are most vulnerable. A business incubator’s main goal is to produce successful small companies that will graduate from the program financially stable and self-supporting.

Typically, incubators provide management guidance, technical assistance and consulting customized for young growing companies. Incubators usually also provide clients access to suitable rental space and flexible leases, access to a conference room, shared basic business services (such as bookkeeping) and office equipment, technology support services, and assistance in obtaining the financing necessary for company growth.

Incubators vary the way they deliver their services, in their organizational structure and in the types of clients they serve. Incubator programs can focus on technology companies, artists, food producers, or a mixture of light industrial, technology, retail, and service firms.

Please take a few minutes to help us gather vital information by clicking on the link below (or copy and paste it in your browser) to complete the survey. Thank you!

http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?F9DDB1AEFDB9A5AC

Business Service Center was established through a cooperative effort between the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneurial Network, and Small Business Administration.

Business Service Center provides technical assistance to tribal members who are interested in starting a small business or strengthen existing business.

 

Services:

Individual business counseling
Business training and classes
Assistance in Accessing Capital
Resource library for business research
Business videos
Computer and internet access
Business software
Free use of copier, fax machine, scanner, and computers

 

Programs:

Indianpreneurship™ A Native American Journey into Small Business 12-week business class that is story-based using Native American entrepreneurial experiences as a basis for illustrating business principles.

Incubator Without Walls is a program to help existing businesses grow through support services and resources that include management guidance, an advisory board, assistance with strategic planning, and access to specialized counseling (Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Computer Technician, etc.)

Native American Entrepreneur Revolving Loan Fund established in partnership with Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation and Business Service Center to create a Native American revolving loan fund for small business development. Eligible uses include the purchase of fixed assets, working capital, or debt restructure.

Individual Development Account (IDA) are matched savings accounts. Participants save money for a specific goal and those funds are matched with funds from pubic and private sources. If you qualify under state income guidelines, you can participate in the IDA program and use these funds for your small business.

Business Service Center Resource Library has a great selection of business resource material for your development and research for your small business.

American Indian Business Leaders - the Business Service Center has organized a student chapter of the American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) Program. This student chapter will be associated with the National American Indian Business Leaders organization. The benefits for AIBL members:

Membership in a nationally recognized professional American Indian organization.
Assistance from professional chapters
Leadership training
Scholarship information
National conference participation
Subscription to AIBL newsletter

If you know of a student who may be interested in joining the chapter or if you would be interested in volunteering to help out with AIBL, please call the Business Service Center at 966-1918.

 

Construction Contractors Board, Oregon Law (ORS 701) requires individuals to take 16 hours of approved contractor education courses and pass a comprehensive 2-hour state test to become a licensed contractor.

Construction Contractors Board Course and text topics include:

CCB (Construction Contractors Board)
Taxes
Recordkeeping
Business Practices
Job Safety
OSHA Requirements
Building Codes
Environmental Laws
Project Management
Time Management
Scheduling
Estimating
Employer Requirements and Employee
Rights Contract Law and Lien Law

24-hour contractor inquiry line: (503) 378-4610 or (888) 366-5635

Construction Contractors Board
700 Summer Street, N.E., Suite 300
Salem, OR 97309-5052
(503) 378-4621
www.ccb.state.or.us

Web link available for entrepreneurs

A section has been provided on the CTUIR web site for tribal enterpreneurs and their businesses. If you are interested in having your business listed contact Debra Croswell at 541-966-2033, drop by her office in the Tribal Administration building, or send an email to info@ctuir.com.

Business Feasibility - You have an idea about the kind of business you want to start. But now what do you do? The next step is a feasibility study, which you will discover if your idea can be turned into a business.

The Feasibility Study covers five categories:

1. Market Feasibility
2. Technical Feasibility
3. Financial Feasibility
4. Organizational Feasibility
5. Competitive Feasibility

The Feasibility Study results may determine whether you:

- Move ahead on writing a business plan
- Abandon your business idea
- Further investigate potential problems
- Resolve problems for business success
- Take a second look at your business idea and can it be revised to make it realistic

You may be tempted not to do a feasibility study and even more tempted not to write a business plan because you know that your idea will work or that you have a must-have product to sell. The choice of you move ahead is yours. The process of writing a business plan is challenging and time consuming, but the less you can to lose, the more important the planning. Once mistake can put a small, poorly funded business under.

Let the trained staff at the Business Service Center help you discover if your business idea can be turned into a success business. We have resources material to help you research your business idea and we offer free business counseling and technical assistance. Call or stop by our offices and get started on your feasibility study.

 

What Makes a Good Entrepreneur?

Certain personalities have a particular advantage in entrepreneurship. Many entrepreneurs exhibit these:

1. Passion
2. Persistence
3. Good health
4. Creativity
5. Independence/self-reliance
6. Intuition
7. Self-confidence
8. Lack of need for status
9. Willingness to accept challenges
10. Willingness to work hard

 

 

Web sites to check out...

Small Business Administration's Hot List Pages:

Starting Your Business

Financing Your Business

Marketing Your Business

Procurement & Contracting forYour Business

 

Sites of interest for Native American entrepreneurs:

ONABEN - A Native American Business Network

Oregon Native American Chamber of Commerce

National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development

National Indian Business Association

 

 

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA),
there are approximately 25 million small businesses in the United States.

SBA also reports that small businesses:
- represent 99.7% of all employers
- provide 47% of all sales in the nation
- provide 55% of innovations
- represent 96% of all US exporters, but not of total exports

 

 

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