The West Central MN SBDC Newsletter |
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We serve in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties in West Central Minnesota, offering no fee one-on-one business consulting services to start-ups, existing and expanding businesses.
You can register for consulting services by clicking the "Register" link on the home page of our website.
We request that you avoid dropping into our office at this time, in an effort to keep Concordia College students, staff and faculty safe.
Please call our office at 218.299.3037 or send an email to sbdc@cord.edu, if you'd like to reconnect.
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Deb McGregor Named MN State Star Consultant |
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If you've seen Deb during a webinar or worked with her as your consultant, you know why she was named MN State Star, the highest accolade achievable for SBDC Consultants.
Deb specializes in Marketing as a consultant for both the Northwest and the West Central MN Small Business Development Centers. Clients who work with Deb are treated to seemingly endless ideas for creative customer engagement.
In recognition of her achievement, Deb will be recognized with other state's State Stars at the national ASBDC Conference in September and will attend the conference at no cost.
Congratulations to Deb McGregor! We are so grateful for your dedication to MN Small Businesses.
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Develop a Positive Workplace Culture to Retain Employees |
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"When an organization has a strong culture, three things happen: Employees know how top management wants them to respond to any situation, employees believe that the expected response is the proper one, and employees know that they will be rewarded for demonstrating the organizations values," according to Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Once a business has determined their core values and what they'd like their culture to look like, they can implement their "values blueprinting" beginning with a candid conversation with leadership.
Common practices can help develop culture through policies, programs and strategies.
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Hiring : Without defining your culture to your interview candidate, ask questions that elicit comments about values such as honesty or integrity. Balance hiring employees who share values with those who offer unique characteristics to keep your business from becoming mediocre or complacent.
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Onboarding: Introduce newcomers to values and desired behaviors. Help them to have early job experiences that reinforce the desired culture.
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Communications: Avoid conflicting messages, which can create distrust, by making sure that messaging is consistent and that leadership behaviors reflect company culture.
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Legal Concerns: "Employers should ensure that hiring practices and selection decisions based on cultural fit rationale do not result in discriminating against any applicants who may not be 'just like' the selectors."
For a more complete picture of how to create your workplace culture, read more from SHRM.
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WC MN SBDC Labor Shortage Webinar Series |
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Throughout the country, businesses are struggling to find enough employees for normal operations.
We recently held a strategy session with our consultants to talk about ways that our clients might address this issue both in the short term and in the long term. From that conversation we put together a webinar series addressing ways that your business can adapt to ease the pain associated with the current labor shortage.
Webinar registration links can also be found on the Events page of our website.
Labor Shortage – Strategies
Learn what you can do today to find relief from the labor shortage. Presented by MN SBDC Consultant, Deb McGregor.
Wednesday, September 8, 11:00 am - Noon
Labor Shortage - Automation
Learn how automation can help your small business decrease menial activities in order to increase your labor capacity. Presented by WC MN SBDC Consultant, Shannon Berns.
Wednesday, September 22, 11:00 am - Noon
Labor Shortage - Creating Efficiency
Learn how to prioritize and align tasks to increase work efficiency and gain capacity. Presented by WC MN SBDC Consultant, Bill Schalow
Wednesday, October 6, 11:00 am - Noon
Labor Shortage – Retention
Develop a workplace culture that encourages employee retention. Presented by WC MN SBDC Executive Director, Matt Magness
Wednesday, October 20, 11:00 am - Noon
#WCSBDCBusinessWorkshops #LiveWideOpenMN #MNSBDC #OnlyinMN
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Business Builders Workshops |
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We've teamed up with our North Dakota SBA partners (ND SBA, ND SCORE, ND SBDC and ND WBC and VBOC of the Dakotas) to provide monthly Business Builders Webinars!
Business Planning using a Bubble Chart Road Map
The thought of writing a business plan can sometimes be daunting. So where do you start? Let us break it down into small manageable chunks before you write complete comprehensive thorough paragraphs. Wendy Klug, VBOC of the Dakotas Director, will lead attendees through a bubble chart approach and discuss simple research tricks that will help you lay the foundation for key categories of the business plan. From these methods, you will be ready to take the next step and transform your brainstorming session information to sections of a full business plan with ease.
August 10, 2021, 3:30 - 4:30pm
Doing Business with the Federal Government
Learn what is required to do business with the Federal Government, e.g. SAM registration, Business notary, NAIC, Representation, and Certification as well as how to find business opportunities with the Federal Government. Presented by Graham Pritchett, Director of Business Operations, GF Air Force Base, and Queen McCartney, SCORE Grand Forks member. Additional information provided by Dave Kleppe, ND PTAC Program Manager.
Sept 14, 2021, 3:30 - 4:30pm
BONUS: Shop North Dakota
As part of National Small Business Week 2021, register for this BBW bonus to find out how easy it is to access new customers online with the ND SBDC’s ShopND.com marketplace. Additionally, Greg Syrup will share details on how to make the most out of your eCommerce channels, marketing tips, and other valuable resources available from ND SBDC. Greg will demonstrate the media kits that are available to borrow for free, which includes a photo light box for product photography and all the tools you need to start creating your own content. The possibilities are endless! (Only North Dakota based businesses can sell on the ShopND.com marketplace.)
Sept 15, 2021, 10:00 -11:00am
#SBA #BusinessBuildersWorkshops #NorthofNormal #LiveWideOpenMN
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SBA Resource Partner and MN PTAC Webinars |
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Getting Comfortable with the New SAM.gov (SBA)
Making the Leap to Entrepreneurship - Is the Right Time Now? (SCORE)
Home-based Business Ownership - Is it the Next Step in Your Career? (SCORE)
Time Management Techniques (SCORE)
Getting Started: Creating the Right Legal Business Structure (MN PTAC)
Exploring Childcare Business Opportunities (WomenVenture)
WomenVenture Services Overview
Grow Your Business With Video and YouTube (SCORE)
Understanding State Government Contracting (MN PTAC)
Prevailing Wage Seminar (Department of Labor)
Getting Ready - For early-stage businesses (WomenVenture)
Understanding Your Business Finances (SBDC)
Steps for Starting a Small Business (SBA)
DBE Program Overview (MN PTAC)
Ready: Business Startup Basics (SBA Smart Business Series)
Scrappy Branding (SCORE)
Optimizing Your Pricing Strategy to Maximize Profits (SCORE)
Veteran's Resource Brief (SBA)
Pasos simples para iniciar un negocio en Minnesota (SBA)
Set: Becoming Credit-Ready (SBA Smart Business Series)
A Simple Process to Manage Your Time and Identify Which Items to Delegate (SCORE)
WomenVenture Services Overview
Profit Mastery - 2 Days in Duluth (SBDC)
Writing Your Technical Business Plan (SCORE)
Google Analytics 2.0 - Beyond The Basics (SCORE)
Marketing Your Business Using Website Techniques and Your Google My Business Listing (SBDC)
To Incorporate or Not to Incorporate Your Business? That is the Question (SCORE)
TG/ED/VO – Small Business Program Certification for the State of MN (MN PTAC)
Small Business Certifications to Give Your Company an Edge (MN PTAC)
Go: Finding Additional Support and Resources (SBA Smart Business Series)
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Veteran & Small Business Government Contractors (MN PTAC)
Doing Business with the States of MN, ND, SD (SBA)
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, A Legal Overview (SBA)
#SBA #BusinessBuildersWorkshops #NorthofNormal #LiveWideOpenMN
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WC MN SBDC Regional Supporters |
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We want to thank our supporters for their donation to our Matching Funds Campaign! Did you know that SBDC’s provide no-fee one-on-one business consulting services? We can do this because the SBA funds 50% of our costs. The State of MN matches some of those funds, but we are required to find local donations to match the rest of our operational costs.
- Barnesville Economic Development Authority
- Bell Bank
- City of Moorhead
- City of Perham EDA
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Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation
- Northwestern Bank
- Offutt School of Business, Concordia
- Roll-A-Ramp
- Security State Bank, Fergus Falls
- United Community Bank
- West Central Initiative
- West Tool & Design, LLC
Thank you! We couldn’t do this without you.
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West Central MN SBDC
901 8th St. S.
Moorhead, MN 56560
(218) 299-3037
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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and regional support partners. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the program sponsors. Programs are open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance by calling 218.299.3037. |
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