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COBE and Small Business Development Center Offer Free Training

Residents of Southwest Idaho who may be interested in starting or acquiring their own business are invited to participate in free training sessions just announced by Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics and the Idaho Small Business Development Center.

The training is particularly relevant for those who have been, or may be, dislocated from their jobs, and who might want to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. The sessions will address the skills needed and the resources available to plan and run a business. In addition to the training programs, the Idaho SBDC staff will provide experienced consulting services for entrepreneurs.

The training sessions and consulting services are free. For more information, call (208) 426-3875. The schedule is as follows:

Overview of Entrepreneurship and Local Resources – offered twice, 9-11 a.m. Monday April 6, Jordan D, Boise State Student Union Building; and from noon-2 p.m. Thursday, April 9, Grand A/C Ballroom, Boise State Student Union Building. This is an introductory class discussing the many free/low-cost resources available to small businesses/entrepreneurs in the area. This is a business startup preparation class, as well as a resource guide for existing businesses. Anyone who is considering starting a new business, needs help with their business, is buying into an existing business, or who simply wants to learn more about running a business, will find this session valuable. Instructor Rod Grzadzieleski, Small Business Administration.

Buying/Selling/Valuing a Business – offered twice, noon-3 p.m. Monday April 6, Jordan D in the Boise State Student Union Building; and 2-5 p.m. Friday, April 10, Grand B/D Ballroom in the Boise State Student Union Building. What is the process of buying/selling a business and how do you determine its fair value? The class will cover how to value the business, how to finance the transaction, how to reach agreement between buyer and seller, and how to prepare yourself for the work ahead if the deal is done. Idaho SBDC consultants will be available to assist class participants in one-on-one, no-cost consulting, by appointment, to further assist. Instructor Rick Vycital, regional director for the Idaho SBDC.

Where Do Ideas Originate? – offered twice, 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, April 14, in the Hatch C, Boise State Student Union Building, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Hatch C in the Boise State Student Union Building. This class will help potential entrepreneurs determine what kind of business to start and how to create and evaluate good ideas. A really good business is one in which the potential client hears about the product/service, and immediately wants to buy. Anything less than a great idea results in a much harder business to operate profitably. Taking the time to come up with a sound business idea is core to your success, and ease, in selling to the marketplace. Boise State faculty members will brainstorm with participants on how good ideas come about and methods you can take to discover new, exciting business concepts. Instructor Kent Neupert, Boise State College of Business and Economics.

NxLevel Business Planning Class – offered twice as a two-day course, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, April 20-21, or Thursday-Friday, April 23-24, at the TECenter, Nampa. This class will cover how to develop a business plan that will guide your business. A business plan is critical to obtaining bank financing and is a business outline that is developed to organize an idea, the operational considerations, the market research, the marketing processes, the pricing options and the financial strategies. The trainer will be available to consult one-on-one with class participants following the course to assist in developing a business plan. Instructors Rick Vycital, regional director for the Idaho SBDC.

Business Basics for Spanish-Speaking Entreprenuers – 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Lookout Room, Boise State Student Union Building. In Spanish only, this is a business startup preparation class, as well as a resource guide for existing businesses. Anyone who is considering starting a new business, needs help with their business, buying into an existing business, or who simply wants to learn more about running a business, will find this session valuable. Instructor Enrique Camarillo, Idaho SBDC Hispanic consultant.

Click here to view in-depth article from the Idaho Statesmen.com

Contact: Sherry Squires, University Communications, (208) 426-1563, ssquires@boisestate.edu

Community Engagement – Update

On December 2nd, President Joel Hickman and Key Bank hosted over twenty of their best customers to an event that featured COBE. Dwayne Barney discussed the state of the economy and his views on how we have ended up where we are now and how we got into this situation – providing a macro level solution to the problem.

On December 4th, COBEco-sponsored an event with the Urban Land Institute at which all faculty andguests were invited in the Sky-Center. This was a chance of the college to interact with over 100 key business leaders in this community. Greg and Wita Wojtkowski, Mark Buchannan, and Kirk Smith were also in attendance that evening.

Yesterday, Kevin Learned from the Small Business Development Center joined 20 other people from the business community, government and the university, including the President and Provost, in a round table discussion about the role technology plays in economic development in Idaho, where we stand on that now and what we can do to enhance Idaho’s technological position. The group is now planning what the next steps need to be to make something happen.

Last night, COBE co-hosted the Keiretsu Forum, Highway 12, and the Boise Angel Alliance at the Sky-Center. These are “angel investor” groups who fund start-up companies. This event was coordinated by Jeff Sugheir with help from Kent Neupert, John Mcintosh and Joanie Andersen. Kent gave an excellent presentation discussing the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Northwest Venture Championships that will be held in March. A great panel discussion involving investors from Idaho, Seattle and California discussed how the process works, why they do this, and the good, bad, and ugly of angel investing. Karen Vauk also joined us in meeting with over 120 very influential people from the Idaho Business community.

Finally, Sandy Gough has stepped up to serve as a volunteer judge for the Idaho Small Business of the Year Award and will spend time next week reviewing a number of companies that have been nominated.

Heidelberg Project

Update: 2/6/2009 The Heidelberg Project is now full. Please call  20… to find out how else COBE can fill your needs.

Idaho Companies Invited to Participate in Heidelberg Project

Boise State invites Idaho companies to participate in its fifth annual Heidelberg Project.  Selected firms will receive a marketing study, analysis and plan related to the potential for their products or services in Europe.

The Business School of Applied Science University of Heidelberg, Germany, and Boise State’s College of Business and Economics, in collaboration with the Idaho Small Business Development Center and TECenter, have developed a program that offers Idaho companies a unique opportunity to investigate market opportunities in Europe. Student teams, with oversight from professors at both universities, will do field research for Idaho companies on potential markets and other specific queries from the firms.

Students will interact with local companies through e-mail, phone calls and video conferencing and draft a final written report that will be presented to participating companies in April 2009. Student team members will sign nondisclosure agreements for their partner firms.

The cost is $995 per firm, with a money back guarantee if the firm is not satisfied with the student report.

For more information, contact Rick Vycital, Idaho Small Business Development Center, at ext. 6-3792, or John Glerum, Boise State TECenter, at 562-3600.

College of Business and Economics Administration    |    cobe-info@boisestate.edu    |    (208) 426-1125    |    Micron Business and Economics Building Room 3131