Workshop Details July-Sept 2011

* Doing Business in South Fork (Info Center) ... July 11, 8:00 a.m.-Noon  Free
                  find out what businesses are needed and spaces available  Free Breakfast!


* Hire Your First Employee (Alamosa-at the Depot) ... July 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
    - Presenter is Cindy Morin with over 18 years of Human Resource Management experience
      -register with Donna Wehe at 589-3682 
    -$20 (or 1/2 off for any SLV chamber members)
     - what questions can you ask in an interview?  changes in employer law?  much more...
* Create Your Own Blog (La Jara Library) ... July 21, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
            $20 (or 1/2 off for any SLV chamber members)
Register with AnnMarie at Conejos County Chamber 376-2277 or info@conejoschamber.org
Bring your own laptop, photos, logos, stories, etc. or sign up to reserve a library laptop.
Presenter is SBDC Counselor Sharron Calvin


* Customer Service Excellence (South Fork 8:00-10:00 a.m., Del Norte 11:00-1:00 & Monte Vista 3:30-5:30 p.m.) August 10, 2011.  Locations TBA
    -Register with Donna Wehe, donna@slv-sbdc.com or 589-3682
    -Free workshop for front line employees, covering basic greeting skills, local area attractions & "how to handle disgruntled customers" presented by Liz Thomas, ASC.
    - Scholarships may be available for business owners in Rio Grande County to send employees

* QuickBooks in Creede on August 15
    -Presenters are Donna Wehe and Donielle VanGieson
    -Advanced QB users may schedule ahead of time for free one-on-one QB or Small Biz counseling session
    -Location will be at the Creede Chamber of Commerce
    - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. One on One counseling sessions
    *** 11:30-1:00 Either workshop available:  Financial Basics of Running a Business (Free) or Using QuickBooks to report sales tax ($20 per person or $30 if not a chamber member)
    - 2:00-4:00 p.m. One on One counseling sessions
    *** 4:30-7:00 p.m. QuickBooks for Beginners ($20 per person or $30 if not a chamber member)
Light refreshments will be available, but participants are welcome to bring their own food/drink.
   -Contact Donna Wehe at 589-3682 or donna@slv-sbdc.com to register


* Increase Your Sales (Alamosa-at the Depot) ... September 21, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
    -Featured Speaker will be Arvin VanRy
    - Refreshments served; free to Alamosa Chamber Members; $15 if not a chamber member
    -Contact Donna Wehe at 589-3682 or donna@slv-sbdc.com to register

IRS increased tax rates mid year in 2011 to assist small biz owners

Ashlea Ebeling blogged about the new tax advantage for small business owners that goes into effect July 1, 2011.  http://blogs.forbes.com/ashleaebeling/2011/06/24/irs-helps-taxpayers-with-high-gas-prices/

The mileage rate for business purposes is 55.5 cents a mile, up from 51 cents a mile during the first half of 2011. The mileage rate for medical and moving expenses is 23.5 cents a mile, up from 19 cents a mile during the first half of 2011. The last time the IRS put in a mid-year increase was in 2008, when the business mileage rates went from 50.5 cents a mile to 58.5 cents a mile, and the rate for medical and moving purposes went from 19 cents a mile to 27 cents a mile.

South Fork hosts Business Seminar

Find out how you could start or move your business to this location in South Fork!




Doing Business in South Fork Seminar


July 11th, 2011  8:00a.m.-noon


Have you ever considered Starting your Own Business?

There is Opportunity for you in South Fork, CO!

The South Fork Chamber of Commerce Presents:

Doing Business in South Fork Seminar

When: Monday July 11th, 2011

8AM – NOON (FREE BREAKFAST)
Where: South Fork Community Building
Why: South Fork needs additional business and services

And has VACANT Commercial Properties

• Learn what businesses are needed

(bring your own ideas too)

• Learn what Commercial properties are For Sale or Lease

• Learn what it takes to do business in South Fork.

• Make a match!


Guest Speakers

Door Prizes

Free Breakfast

Questions and RSVP:

Chamber of Commerce Office 719-873-5556
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
No Franchises will be represented.


South Fork Community Center

AGENDA

Welcome Glynn Polter
Chamber President and SF Shop Owner

Starting a Small Business in San Luis Valley
Donna Wehe
Director – CO Small Bus Dev Center for San Luis Valley

Review Needed Businesses in South Fork
Glynn Polter

Break

Review Commercial Properties For Sale or Lease in South Fork
Connie Goodnight
Chamber Board Member and Realtor

Information you need to know about setting up a business in the Town of South Fork
Sharon Fairchild SF Town Clerk

Bill Matthews SF Town Manager
Useful information in setting up a business in South Fork

Kim Krahn
Chamber Board Member and SF Shop Owner
Close and Follow Up
Glynn

New Retail Business is For the Birds in Alamosa, Colorado

This story is for the birds. Cranes and Crows to be specific.

Lori and Joel Korngut, Adams State College Alumni, recently became new residents of Alamosa. Lori is the owner of a new retail store in downtown Alamosa and she invites you in for a field trip experience at the corner of Main and San Juan (701 Main Street, Alamosa, Colorado  81101).

Lori moved her business here from Albuquerque when Joel took on a job at Adams State College. They sell gifts, educational material, art, jewelry, t-shirts, puppets, children’s books & puzzles, bird feeders and bird seed…all around the nature/wildlife theme.

It’s an experience just to wander the store, as you browse through books, play with puppets and check out unique hummingbird feeders. Lori and Joel are bird watching aficionados and love to talk birding with other nature lovers.

This inviting retail store is open Monday-Saturday from 10-6. You might find the store open on Sundays if they are available. The phone number for the store is 589-1100 and they deliver bird seed in the Alamosa area.

They appreciate the assistance they received from Donna Wehe at the SLV Small Business Development Center, 589-3682, for marketing ideas, networking to events and artisans, and setting up their sales tax license and legal structure in Colorado.

Summer workshop series

1) Thursday, June 9, 7:30-9:00 a.m. Disaster Preparedness (physical and IT) for your business presented by Lisa Werts and Roger Jackson. At the Depot, Free to chamber members ($10 if not a chamber member)
2) QuickBooks™ Beginner Class , Thursday, June 16, 2011; 5:00-6:30 p.m. 610 State Avenue, At the Depot, upstairs, $20 per person; Presented by Donielle VanGieso
3) Tuesday, June 21: Google Places for your Business @ Monte Vista Information Center; 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Free)
4) Wednesday, July 20: Hire Your First Employee @ the Depot, Alamosa, 5:30-7:00 p.m. $20 (1/2 any SLV Chamber member), presented by Cindy Morin

Please Call Donna at 589-3682 to RSVP for any of these workshops

Disaster Preparedness Business over Breakfast Workshop

Business over Breakfast

Thursday, June 9, 2011

7:30-9:00 a.m.
Disaster Preparedness!

Presented by
Lisa Werts, Red Cross
and
Roger Jackson, IT specialist

How to prepare your business in case of a physical or technology disaster
Free to Alamosa Chamber Members
$10 for Non-chamber members
Continental Breakfast provided.
At the Depot, upstairs.

RSVP to Donna Wehe at 589-3682 or donna@slv-sbdc.com

The San Luis Valley SBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the
U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute and express or implied endorsement of any of the cosponsor(s)’ or participants’ opinions, products or services.

Leading Edge Graduation for Spring 2011

Nine San Luis Valley Business owners graduated from the spring Leading Edge Seminar (following the NxLevel Curriculum) on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 after 12 weeks of weekly meetings, creating their business plan and marketing material, and meeting with business consultants from the SLV SBDC.  The speakers were Eric and Lisa Burt from Kristi Mountain Sports who told their story of building a successful business in Alamosa, Colorado.

Several new businesses opened throughout the duration of this class:

Professional Bookkeeping Service Inc., Owners Kay Harmon and Cindy Morin, located in the Sunflower Bank building in Monte Vista.  (719) 850-3237.

Lopez Electric LLC, serving the entire region, (719) 588-6904."Performing the job right, the first time, on time and every time."

Valley Fire & Security of Colorado, LLC, NICET certified to bring you peace of mind.  Owner John Bradley, 719-480-4717.

Ronnie Lee Romero of All Aspects Roofing and Construction, (719) 580-0392, no job too big or small.

Fresh farm chicken or duck eggs can be purchased from Carla Yokely at White Pine Poultry, (719) 852-4466.

Jeaneen McLaren and Anna Libby are taking their homemade card making hobby to the next level and have created Heart-In-Hand Cards, an on-line business.  Stay tuned for their web-site so you can order homemade cards for your next special occasion. 719-849-8700.