Financial Contributions
Our thanks to Wells Fargo Foundation and Banner Bank for their commitment to business growth in Spokane's low-income areas. Over time their operating support for SNEDA will strengthen our local economy. Phone Eric Loewe at 444-7633 for information on supporting SNEDA’s work.
Loan Funds
SNEDA's loan fund now stands at $220,000, thanks to the City of Spokane for its innovative use of Community Development Block Grant funds. Phone Nick Landis or Eric Loewe at 444-7633 for more information on SNEDA's loan capabilities.
Expand Your Business Through Government Contracts
Recently Johan Curtiss from the Procurement Technical Assistance Center in the TriCities visited six businesses in the SNEDA service area. Ms. Curtiss discussed prospects for obtaining or increasing various government contracts. Her next visit is on September 17 and is already entirely booked, but SNEDA will continue to coordinate these visits. Phone Nick Landis at 444-7633 for scheduling information.
SNEDA's new AmeriCorps VISTA Entrepreneur Corps members exemplify members of the creative class identified by Professor Richard Florida
Formerly a newspaper reporter in Boise, Michigan State graduate Jonathan Brunt will be working as a business consultant with the West Central, Emerson/Garfield and Peaceful Valley neighborhoods. "I want to make sure what I do is relevant to the community," said Jonathan. "If I look back and see there isn't much of a result I'll be really disappointed." (Sounds like words of wisdom for us all, Jonathan.)
Lynne Haley is the new Virtual Incubator Manager for TINCAN (The Inland Northwest Community Access Network). She is currently working to develop new marketing materials and a marketing plan for the Incubator, which provides Web hosting, Web site development, and strategies for businesses to make an entry into Internet commerce. She brings with her the experience of fifteen years as a business owner, four years doing Internet commerce, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a BA from Gonzaga University
Pianist Angela Huang only has two worries about her job as a business consultant with SNEDA: Driving in snow this winter (a new experience for the Portland native!) and being taken seriously by her elders--the business owners she is hoping to serve. "I'm looking forward to putting the skills I learned at the University of Washington business school into practice," said Angela. "But even in business the bottom line isn't always about money."
Thomas Speight is the new Micro-Enterprise Developer at SNAP. This former Peace Corps volunteer (Jamaica), ex-travel agent (Newport, WA) and MBA graduate (Gonzaga, '89) still runs a free list-serve accessed by up to 1,200 travel agents daily. Thomas believes we have to grow micro-business because "both manufacturing and white-collar jobs are being shipped overseas. Small business is the life-blood of the United States," he said. "Often people don't realize that it takes personal sacrifice to become financially independent. But opportunity is everywhere. You just gotta find it."
After living in the Twin Cities, Architecture graduate Tesia Walsky finds Spokane friendly if not as cosmopolitan as she expected. Before leaving the University of Minnesota she sometimes helped her dad (a general contractor) on remodeling projects. Tesia hopes to round out her design training and hands-on work experience with business and construction management experience at Northwest Regional Facilitators (NRF). "I thought the VISTA Pre-Service Orientation in Washington DC provided useful financial perspectives about poverty, and I'm really looking forward to using my Architecture degree to help develop affordable housing in Spokane."
