Be the Entrepreneur Northeastern Oregon Needs Today!

The past few years have brought a wave of adversity to communities nationwide, from the COVID-19 pandemic to current economic hardships. But amidst the turmoil, one truth has emerged: small communities are filled with enterprising individuals with fantastic ideas to make their communities a better place to live. Entrepreneurship has grown recently, with more than five million business applications filed in 2021 and 2022 each. There are over 33 million small businesses in the country today, employing approximately 62 million individuals, nearly half of all private sector employees. It’s an understatement to say that entrepreneurship is vital to our economy. 

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, an annual celebration and deserving recognition of the tireless efforts entrepreneurs employ for their communities. National Entrepreneurship Month is the perfect time to welcome and celebrate new businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Northeastern Oregon. 

Help for Entrepreneurs

If you’d like to open, relocate, or expand your business in Northeastern Oregon, several institutions are dedicated to helping you along the process. Learn more about them below to start a conversation today that could be the beginning of your tomorrow. 

The Eastern Oregon University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can offer entrepreneurs and small business owners a wide range of support, regardless of their position in the business lifecycle. Its team can connect individuals to capital access protocols, grant funding and other financial assistance.  In 2022, the SBDC helped infuse $6,378,200 of capital into local businesses while working with 157 pre-venture endeavors and 50 existing businesses. 

Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network (RAIN) Catalysts is a nonprofit organization that reduces barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation in underrepresented populations. Its numerous free programs have helped 52 communities in Washington and Oregon since 2014, including several in Grant County. 

The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District provides financial, technical and educational resources for Northeast Oregon’s entrepreneurs. Its support includes workshops, funding, technical assistance and other resources.

Ways to Celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month

As natural problem-solvers, entrepreneurs are job drivers, economy-stabilizers, and family builders. When an entrepreneur gets their business off the ground, they hire employees. Employees take those wages into their homes to provide for their families and into communities to purchase necessary and desirable goods and services. 
To celebrate them this month and beyond, here are some ways consumers and customers can say, “Thank you,” to the entrepreneurs of Northeastern Oregon:

• Purchase something from your favorite entrepreneur or from one you haven’t shopped with before
• Specifically purchase from a woman entrepreneur on November 19th, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
• Volunteer your time and assistance
• Consider a service-based entrepreneur and schedule an appointment
• Leave a review on their social media
• Share love by posting a review on your personal social media
• Follow entrepreneurs’ social media pages and interact with them

Ways entrepreneurs can support fellow entrepreneurs: 

• Support local crowdfunding websites
• Mentor a new entrepreneur
• Start or attend monthly Entrepreneur Only networking meetings
• Volunteer teaching small business basics at the local Chamber of Commerce
• Remind others to be thankful for the journey you are on together

National Entrepreneurship Month celebrates innovation, creativity, problem-solving, courage, and change! Now is the time to start your own entrepreneurial experience. Contact Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative today for assistance - we’re here for you!