"Empower Hours at the Expo"

Whether you are already in business - or would like to be - you will not want to miss this FREE event designed with you in mind.

Saturday March 7 at the DECC in Duluth, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sponsored by the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund in conjunction with the Women's Expo

Empower Hours:

10 a.m. - The Art of Negotiation for People Who Hate to Negotiate
Are you terrified to negotiate your next pay raise? Do you cringe at the thought of haggling over the price of your next car? Do you love bargains, but hate bargaining? Learn practical skills so you can face your next negotiation situation with confidence.

NOON - Calling All Artrepreneurs
Are you an artist that is tired of starving? Would you like to turn your creativity and passion into a real income? Come and hear from local artists who have made a successful transition from starving artist to "Artrepreneur." Plus, learn more about new programs that can help you turn your dream into green. All visual artists, craftspeople, sculptors, potters, filmmakers, photographers, musicians, and writers are welcome!

2 p.m. - Brand "U"
How do you want others to see you? How do you want your work and reputation to be perceived? You can take an active role in forming the perception the world has of you - it's called personal branding. Learn how to develop your personal brand and the importance it can play in your day-to-day successes.

Stop at our booth in the main expo. Our staff will be on hand this day to help you start your journey or answer your questions about how to keep your business on the right track. Learn about new events and classes that can help you run a smarter business!

 

Growing Neighborhood Businesses Dinner Series:
"Marketing Strategies for Uncertain Times"
Innovative thinking and branding to promote your business in economic downturn

When:  Thursday, March 5

Where: Historic Duluth Depot

Dinner  Host: Duluth Grill

Cost:    $15, includes dinner

Speaker:
Carrie Hegstrom,
Eclat Branding

Schedule:   5:00 pm - cash bar and networking
                   5:30 pm - Dinner (served by Duluth Grill of Lincoln Park)
                   6:00 pm - Guest speaker Carrie Hegstrom
                   6:45 pm - NEF host Jennifer Young
                   7:00 pm - close

Register now by calling Jennifer Young at 218-623-5747 or email jennifery@entrepreneurfund.org.  Pre-registration required.  Please register by Wednesday, March 4 to reserve your seat.  Seats are limited.

Sponsored by the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund.  "Growing Neighborhood Businesses" (GNB) is a partner of Duluth at Work, a new initiative co-administered by the City of Duluth LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation).
 

"Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour" coming to Hibbing Community College - Tuesday, March 3

The "Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour" is coming to Hibbing Community College on Tuesday, March 3.

The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour brings the country's top young entrepreneurs to college campuses to spread the entrepreneurial mindset during a half-day conference. Started in 2006, the tour has visited over 60 schools nation-wide and has received the Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations and the Program of the Year award from Northern Michigan University.

The tour is coming to Hibbing Community College to inform and inspire the students of our Northeast Higher Education District colleges toward thinking about the pursuit of entrepreneurship.  The event is part of the Campus Entrepreneurship Initiative, a program designed to increase awareness and opportunities for entrepreneurship education in our northeast Minnesota community and technical colleges.

For more information on the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, visit www.extremetour.org.  Scroll down to the "Hibbing" link for local event details and registration. 

For more information about the Campus Entrepreneurship Initiative, contact Susan Martin at 218-749-4191 or susanm@entrepreneurfund.org.

Funding for this event has been provided by a grant from the Coleman Foundation and local funding from the Arrowhead University Consortium and Applied Learning Institute, along with contributions from the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund and the Northeast Higher Education District colleges (Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range Community & Technical College, Rainy River Community College, and Vermilion Community College).
 

Turn your art into an income

Are you an artist with a desire to transform your avocation into a business?  Do you want to be able to successfully market your artistic product/service?  Are you wondering where and how to start down the path of artist-as-entrepreneur?

The Northeast Entrepreneur Fund introduces a new business learning program developed especially or artists who reside in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. 

C.RE.A.T.E. (Community Resources for Artists-to-Entrepreneurs) is designed to help artists turn their work into viable, income-producing businesses.  Eligible participants include but are not limited to visual artists, sculptors, potters, filmmakers, photographers, musicians, and writers.

First class series begins March 26.  For program details, visit www.entrepreneurfund.org/GNBcreate.htm, call 218-623-5747, or email info@entrepreneurfund.org.
 

Warning:  SBA scam alert to small businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently issued a scam alert to small businesses, warning them not to respond to letters falsely claiming to have been sent by the SBA asking for bank account information in order to qualify them for federal tax rebates.

The fraudulent letters were sent out with what appears to be an SBA letterhead to small businesses across the country, advising recipients that they may be eligible for a tax rebate under the Economic Stimulus Act, and that SBA is assessing their eligibility for such a rebate. The letter asks the small business to provide the name of its bank and account number.

These letters have not been sent by or authorized by the SBA, and all small businesses are strongly advised not to respond to them.

The scheme is similar in many ways to e-mail scams often referred to as “phishing” that seek personal data and financial account information that enables another party to access and individual’s bank accounts or to engage in identity theft.

The SBA is working with the SBA Office of Inspector General to investigate this matter. The Office of Inspector General asks that anyone who receives such a letter report it to the OIG Fraud Line at 1 (800) 767-0385, or e-mail at OIGHotline@sba.gov.

Source: US Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov)
 

http://www.taxtalktoday.com/index.cfm?page=8.780
 

This Month's Featured Entrepreneurial Resources… 

eFolio Minnesota:  A multimedia electronic portfolio designed to help you create a living showcase of your education, career and personal achievements. All Minnesota residents, including students enrolled in Minnesota schools, educators and others can use eFolio Minnesota to reach their career and education goals.

www.efoliominnesota.com

Wisconsin Business Wizard:  Using a series of five question-and-answer pages, the Wizard provides customized information to help you start and operate a Wisconsin-based business.

http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/app/wizard/LoadIntro