Free Business Planning Workshop on April 20

In partnership with the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce and the Outlook Inn in Eastsound, the San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a free all-day workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on Tuesday, April 20 from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by James McCafferty, director of the Skagit/San Juan Islands Small Business Development Center, and a management consultant for over 10 years.  An afternoon session in social media and marketing will be presented by Victoria Compton, director of the San Juan County Economic Development Council.

The business workshop will include a course on business planning, and will run from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. As part of the morning workshop, McCafferty will cover business financing. The workshop will discuss a variety of financing options and will provide a reality check for those considering a new or expanded business venture.

Participants in the workshop will leave with the resources and support to create a business plan including a realistic financial plan.  In addition, McCafferty will cover current federal and Washington State tax incentive programs for small businesses.

An afternoon session on social media will run from 2 to 3 p.m. and will be presented by Compton.  Marketing in the San Juan Islands can be tricky, particularly for businesses with small budgets.  Using social media as a marketing tool is an easy and effective for way for many businesses to do additional marketing inexpensively.

As part of the afternoon session, one-on-one business counseling will be offered and will run from 2 until 4 p.m.

The workshop will be held at the Outlook Inn, 171 Main Street in Eastsound.  Advanced registration is recommended: info@sanjuansedc.org, or (360) 378-2906.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council’s Business Education Series was created by the EDC in response to concerns from local business owners and overall increased demand from new businesses. This series will present a variety of business topics designed for both those opening a new business or those wanting to take their business to the next level. The series will be held on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands, in rotation.

“The San Juan County EDC has responded to the current difficult economic climate by increasing the scope of the critical direct support that business owners and managers need,” said Compton.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community. The EDC works to build an environment that helps business owners create jobs. It serves business:  linking organizations and resources, providing valuable information, rendering assistance and advocating for an improved island business environment.