Microenterprise Assistance Classes

Thanks to a community development block grant awarded to the City of Lyons and an agreement to be a classroom instruction subcontractor with them, the North Santiam Canyon Economic Development Corporation was able to introduce the 12-month North Santiam Regional Microenterprise Assistance Program to four targeted communities: Aumsville, Lyons, Mill City and Idanha.  Launched in April 2010, our goal was to reach 34 participants from these cities, all of whom would be microenterprise owners or thinking about opening a microenterprise, and 18 of whom would be low- and moderate-income earners (LMI).

While some of our classes focused on specific skills, like QuickBooks and Web Site Development, the bulk of our courses were aimed at strengthening business planning, financial management and marketing know-how related to running a successful microenterprise.  Each class, regardless of topic, also had three components: lecture about the topic, Socratic dialog between the students and instructor to foster understanding of the subject material, and experiential learning so participants could practice using the new information. 

During November/December 2010 and February/March 2011 we intensified our program, offering classes in two different series and in multiple locations.  Our expectation was that enrollment in an entire series would help participants deepen their understanding of essential business management practices and how to put them to work in a tangible, practical way.  Twenty-six of our learning events took place during this time.

Twelve months later we had exceeded our original goal, ultimately offering thirty-six classroom events to 49 microenterprise entrepreneurs, 29 of whom were LMI.  Moreover, 84% of our participants took more than one class, with 90% of LMI participants enrolling in multiple courses.  This high serial enrollment was not only gratifying in a region where distance makes attendance challenging, it helped anchor the subject matter in the microenterprise attendees who would benefit from it most.  As a result, these classroom experiences not only complemented the other work we do with entrepreneurs, it helped many established and hopeful microenterprise business owners move forward with confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm. 

As one participant noted, “These classes gave me a sense of belonging to a professional community.  It is so much easier to ask for help and opinions when you sit around a table together and share the learning experience.  I feel better about my business and referring people to other business owners in this class as a result of attending this series.  I feel proud to live here and be part of this.”   

The City of Lyons is reapplying for another community development block grant in the early summer of 2011.  If awarded, our hope is that through our subcontractor agreement we will be able to extend these and other microenterprise assistance courses to microenterprise owners in all of the cities and unincorporated areas we serve.