SNEDA is working with Ron & Julie Wells of Wells and Company to access newly available financing from national sources for their Rookery project. We are also talking with developers of several similar projects. Contact Nick Landis or Eric Loewe @ 444-7633 for innovative business or commercial real estate financing.

SNEDA is working with Allen’s Cycle in Hillyard to assess constraints to the company’s future growth. We are also working with other businesses within the 10 SNEDA neighborhoods. If you need business assistance please contact Susan Devan, 998-4709; Vic Frazier, 218-6921; or Eric Loewe, 444-7633.

For the innovation economy envisioned by regional leaders to prosper inside our less affluent neighborhoods we must address the general distrust of business (or governmental planning) so often expressed by many of our citizens. For educational and community development projects examining the roots of local skepticism and examples of how to correlate business creativity with sustainable neighborhood well-being contact: Don Hornbeck @ 444-7633.

Currently SNEDA is recruiting for 11 Entrepreneur Corps VISTA positions ideal for recent business school graduates, mid-career transitional or retired business persons wanting to make a difference in Spokane’s lower-income neighborhoods. Visit the job descriptions at sneda.org under "join the team" and see the americorps.org website to apply. Should you be personally interested, or if you know of potential candidates, please give us a call.

Tying key approaches to urban renewal together, The Community Economic Development Handbook ( Mihailo Temali, 2002, Wilder Foundation, ISBN 0-940069-36-9) identifies the following four pivotal strategies for community economic development:

1. Commercial District Revitalization
2. Microbusiness Expansion
3. Workforce Enhancement
4. Growing Good Neighborhood Jobs

SNEDA’s business plan focuses on identifying, supporting and expanding the businesses that will grow good sustainable neighborhood jobs.