GROW News
January 13, 2010
Third Round of Renewals
A third round of renewal e-mails are going out this week.
Please let us know if you are planning on renewing or not by the end of this week. Staff will begin calling those who we have not heard from on Monday.
The deadline to be in the 2010-2011 GROW Book is to
renew and pay by February 1, 2010. Our designer will be taking a leave of absence in March, so
NO exceptions will be made to this deadline to ensure that the GROW Book is printed in a timely manner. Remember, if you joined after September 2009 you do not need to renew. If you have any questions or concerns, or did not receive a renewal, please contact us at 888.476.9632 or e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Who Sold Online This Week?
GROW Nebraska is now highlighting what sold online for the week. If your item sells the most for the week, it will be the featured picture for this section of the weekly update!
If you don't see your products on your list, consider updating your photography or your description to help entice more buyers. For your convenience, we have linked each product to their listing on the eCommerce or eBay sites so you can see what that member has done to help sell their product.
We encourage you to look at the photography and descriptions for each of these items to see how you can make improvements to your listing. Remember, you know more about your business and product than we do, so we really need your help to make your listing the best it can be! To easily find your products on the eCommerce store please
click here.
If you would like to make edits to your listing, please e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
January 6 - January 13
Advisory Council Member Needed
Thank you to Katrina Frey of Heavenly Creations for serving on the GROW Nebraska Advisory Council; however her term is complete and we are looking for another GROW member who would like to help direct the program. It’s a volunteer position and the council meets by phone the second Thursday of every other month at 10:00am. If you are interested please contact us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Super Bowl Sampling Saturdays
GROW Nebraska would like to have food samplers in the Grand Island and Kearney stores the two Saturday's before the Super Bowl to help prepare for the big game. If you are interested in sampling on January 30 or February 6, 2010, please fill out the form
here.
Kearney Sidewalk Sales
The Hilltop Mall is having sidewalk sales Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 15, 16 and 17. Would you like to put something on sale? If you have items in the store that you would like to put on sale please contact
info@grownebraska.org.
Check Out GROW Social Media
Have you checked out GROW social media lately? GROW Nebraska would like to have 5,000 fans by June 1, and we need your help. If you would like to recommend your friends become fans of GROW, simply visit
facebook.com/growneb and click the "suggest to friends" link on the left side under the picture. Once you do this a box will pop up where you can choose the friends you would like to suggest the page to.
You can also visit our
YouTube page and view all the videos about our members. Want to know when a new video is uploaded? Just create a YouTube account and follow GROW.
GROW Shop the Cause
Have you checked out the Shop the Cause on the GROW Facebook page? GROW has been featuring each member involved with the project. This week, we featured Katrina Frey of Heavenly Creations and Ima Gene Mason of IM's Countryside Painting. See more at
facebook.com/growneb.
Be Featured on our Blog
Want to get your business noticed on Google? Would you like your company to have the opportunity to get higher on the search engine ranking? Well, if you answered yes to any those questions you need to take advantage of the NEW service from GROW. It’s the GROW Blog Services.
Click here provide the information requested and GROW will develop blog for your business. Sandra Hilsabeck of Sandra Hilsabeck Books already took advantage of this great opportunity. Read her blog by
clicking here. Become a blogger today with the easy NEW service from GROW Nebraska.
New E-mail Addresses for Stores
GROW Nebraska has new e-mail addresses for the stores. The hotmail accounts currently being used will be cancelled, so please begin using the addresses below.
Valentine's Items
GROW Nebraska would like to stock your Valentine's items in our Kearney and Grand Island locations, and also feature them on the eCommerce site. Do you have chocolates? How about heart shaped jewelry? What about customized items? Please let us know by e-mailing us at
info@grownebraska.org or calling 888-476-9632 by January 8. All items that you would like added must be delivered to the stores by January 15 in time for Valentine's Day promotions.
Winning Government Contracts for Your Business
The NBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Program is sponsoring a series of workshops at the University of Nebraska at Kearney each month. Below are the dates for upcoming workshops.
January 14 - Are You Ready to Sell to the Government?
February 11 - Finding Bidding Opportunities
March 11 - Registering Your Business
April 8 - The Successful Proposal
Time: 8:30am to 10:30am
Location: University of Nebraska at Kearney, West Center Building, Room 120E, 1917 West 24th Street, Kearney NE,
OR Live Webinar
All of the workshops are FREE, but you must register in advance.
To register please
click here.
Enhancing Your Online Presence
The 2010 eXtension Entrepreneur and Their Communities webinar series is announced. The first of the three part series on "Enhancing Your Online Presence" is scheduled for
January 14, 2010 at 1 p.m. CDT; 12 noon MDT. The January session will focus on Web site Usability Testing. Lana Johnson, CIT DEAL Lab, University of Nebraska will be explaining the process of testing for how 'usable' your web site is.
eXtension Entrepreneur and Their Communities webinars are on the 2nd Thursday of every month. All of our webinars are recorded and available for on-demand viewing but nothing beats the live presentation so mark your calendars and spend an hour a month learning with us! Please feel free to join us on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. EDT; 1 p.m. CDT; 12 noon MDT; 11 a.m. PDT.
All webinars are one hour long. Free and open to everyone, this session is part of a monthly series. The Web meeting room opens 10 minutes before the start time. Go to
http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecop to view. Newcomers to online learning are welcome.
Practical Accounting & Quick Books Start-up
The Lincoln SCORE sponsored accounting class:
"Practical Accounting Plus QuickBooks Start-Up" will be given on February 5th
Course Number: ACCT-3524
Date & Time: February 5th, 2010 (Friday) from 8:00am to 5:00pm
Place: SCC Continuing Education Center - 301 S. 68th St. Place - Lincoln, NE 68510 - Room 407
Required Book: "Cover Your Nut" available at SCC Book Store - Main Lincoln Campus (88th & "O")
Registration: Call (402) 437-2700 or (800) 828-0072 asking for registration in Course ACCT-3524
Practical Accounting presented over six hours will give you the accounting basics toward a better understanding of both accounting systems and financial statements. Followed by two hours of Practical QuickBooks which will give participants the basics necessary to set up you accounting information for an easier QuickBooks Start-Up.
Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program Seminar
The Food Processing Center is offering a one-day seminar for all individuals interested in exploring the idea of starting a food manufacturing business. The “From Recipe to Reality” seminar will be offered on April 10, 2010. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration deadline is April 1, 2010. Contact Jill Gifford at 402-472-2819 or
jgifford1@unl.edu for an information packet.
2010 Advanced SBA 8(a) Workshop Registration
Register for One of Our 2010 8(a) BD Workshops Before January 11, 2010 and Pay Only $250. The
SBA's 8(a) BD program is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
Below are just some of the advantages of participating in the 8(a) program.
- 8(a) certification can help you land sole source contracts, some up to $5.5 million each.
- 8(a) set asides mean that when you do compete, you do so against other small businesses, not the large firms; these set asides do not have a dollar ceiling limitation!
- 8(a) certification all but ensures your state MBE or DBE certification.
- 8(a) certification grants you preferred vendor status with large Federal contractors. These contractors must by law, subcontract to certified 8(a) contractors.
Cancellations & Rescheduling
All cancellations are non-refundable but you may reschedule at anytime. If you reschedule to attend another seminar, we will apply your payment toward your new registration fee. Personnel substitutions may be made at any time. Payment must be received prior to the seminar date. No-shows are liable for the full seminar fee.
SBC has eliminated any reasons to wait any longer before registering.
You can attend this program and get all of the information you ever wanted to know about the 8(a) program and also get your actual 8(a) application well underway. All attendees shall receive "unlimited telephone or email consulting" regarding the 8(a) program or the application, at no additional cost to you.
What is the Required Investment for the above Workshop?
- If you register for our Workshop before Monday, January 11, 2010 the price is $250.00 (This option includes classroom workbook and FREE Limited 8(a) BD Certification Package Review valued at $500) Click here for the details included in our Limited 8(a) BD Package Review.
- If you register for our Workshop after Monday, January 11, 2010 the price is $400.00 (This option includes classroom workbook only)
- If you register for our Workshop after Monday, January 11, 2010 the price is $600.00 (This option includes classroom workbook and 8(a) BD Certification Package Review valued at $500) Click here for the details included in our 8(a) BD Package Review.
Payment may be made by Check, MasterCard, VISA or American Express.
Making Your Contacts Count: Three Key Moments in Networking
Presented by Bonnie Coffey
7:30 - 8:30 a. m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010
SCC Continuing Education Center, Lincoln Room 304
$29 Continental breakfast will be provided
Bonnie Coffey, an experienced speaker and trainer, is a business and community leader whose far-reaching career has impacted business, political, financial, and leadership organizations throughout the U.S., from ophthalmology and elected officials to Kiplinger's and AARP. A former radio talk-show host, Bonnie continues her love of words as a columnist, key-noter, trainer, and author who specializes in:
- Teaching networking skills and forging success pathways for her clients
- National leadership on issues that impact women
- Radio hosting and authorship
- Helping others develop their political and business careers
- The ability to get to the bottom line and make self-improvement fun
To Register call Southeast Community College, 1-800-828-0072, ext 3388
Rural Community Meetings
An informational and Old West organizational meeting is being held in North Platte, Thursday, January 21 from 1:30 – 3:30 (central time). Dr. Randy Cantrell (UNL) will be sharing information on results from rural polls and the importance of the information to rural communities. The meeting is open to the public and all area service providers and community volunteers interested in learning about regional resources are encouraged to attend.
The meeting will be in Room 102 of the North Campus of Mid-Plains Community College.
RSVPs appreciated to determine space needs. Please RSVP to Cinch Munson at the Center for Enterprise, MPCC
munsonc@mpcc.edu or 308-535-3678.
MarketPlace 2010
MarketPlace 2010 is coming up – mark you calendars for February 23 and 24! The Ramada Inn in Kearney will host the event. This year’s teach-ins promise to be the best yet with subjects ranging from Internet Profitability; Branding on a Shoestring Budget; Balancing Business and Life are just to name a few.
Scott Knapp and Lauralee Miller co-owner of The Alternative Group will be presenting on the topic of How Women Owned Businesses Can Gain Government Contracts. Scott works for the Nebraska Business Development Center’s, Procurement Technical Assistance Center and provides government contracting assistance to businesses across Central and Western Nebraska from his office on the campus of the University of Nebraska Kearney. Lauralee Miller is a managing partner of The Alternative Group and has over 25 years experience in management and marketing from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations.
MarketPlace offers the following tracks – something for everyone:
- Marketing - Unique approaches to help entrepreneurs prosper through innovative marketing (examples: branding and packaging products or services, niche marketing, etc.)
- Agriculture – Exceptional opportunities available as an agricultural business (examples: agri tourism, direct marketing of local foods, high value products)
- Financing – Educational tools to increase knowledge (examples: cash is king, financing your business)
- Community Development – Innovative community offerings to enhance unique entrepreneurial approaches (examples: how's and why's of being an entrepreneurial community, public policy, renewing your community, youth retention/attraction, investment clubs)
- Technology – Extraordinary ways to increase business using technology anywhere you live (examples: podcasting, off and online businesses)
- Business Development – Programs that build business competency levels, creating awareness improving business skills (examples: risk management, legal issues, customer service)
- Hispanic – Sessions taught in Spanish to enhance business skills (examples: marketing, nuts & bolts of business start-ups, bookkeeping basics)
- Youth – Introduce entrepreneurial experiences and concepts encouraging career exploration and opportunities
- Women Business Owners – What does it take for you, a WOMAN, to start your own business? What challenges will YOU face in taking control of your destiny and opening your own business?
Enclosed is a brochure or you can go to the Center for Rural Affairs Web site at
www.cfra.org/marketplace/home for more information. Early bird registration ends on February 10, 2010 so don’t wait. REGISTER now and SAVE!
Marketing Workshops
Twitter Tense? Facebook Frets? Utterli Uneasy? Social Media Stressing You Out? We Can Help!
GROW Nebraska has teamed up with the University of Nebraska Extension Specialists to help you reduce your anxiety in keeping up with the social media marketing craze.
Social media marketing is essential to increasing brand awareness and expanding your online business presence. However, if you don’t understand how it works, thinking about posting tweets, updating your Facebook page and incorporating your blog into the media mix seems overwhelming.
Not only will we teach you how to save time by being more efficient when using social media, but we are bringing the "Get Social Sessions" to you. Spots are filling quickly! Price is $10/person. If you have questions, call us at 888.GROW.NEB or e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org. If you are interested in attending one of these workshops, please sign up
HERE.
- January 26 - North Platte - 3-6 at West Central Research and Extension Center
- January 27 - Chadron – 3-6 at Chadron State College Student Center
- January 28 - Scottsbluff - 9-12 at UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center
- January 28 - Sidney- 4-7 at Western Nebraska Community College - Room 112 (NOTE: Date and Time have changed)
- NEW: March 18 - Kearney - 9-12 at IntelliCom
