What is GROW?

GROW is a locally-driven program that offers free, confidential, one-on-one business coaching to any entrepreneur in the North Santiam Canyon area that wants to open, expand or improve a business. It follows the unique Enterprise Facilitation model which has proven itself successful in similar areas worldwide: 80% of the businesses that follow this model remain in business after four years. Now that’s sustainability!

“My experience with GROW has made a real impact on our business. The trinity of management concept taught by GROW helped us identify areas in our business that could be improved.  It’s only been a year since we started working with GROW and our revenues have doubled since then.” - John McGinn, All Pro Webworks, LLC 

First Year Highlights

Our program began operations in October, 2008 and has experienced tremendous success in its first year.

• Served 75 clients
• Introduced more than 500 people to this program
• 4 GROW-sponsored grand openings
• Clients representing 16 industries: art, advertising, agriculture/ranching, construction, education, government, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, non-profit, publishing, real estate, recreation, retail/wholesale, services & transportation
• 38 are new businesses
• 37 are existing businesses
• At least 19 F/T jobs created; 21 P/T and/or contractor positions developed
• Retained a vital canyon business through financial management assistance

End of Year Two Update:

During the last year our facilitator has met with 76 clients representing 17 industries, for a total of 151 clients served since we launched GROW in October 2008.  Of this total number, 79 are start-ups or folks with a new business idea, 65 are existing businesses, and 7 are from local government and civic organizations.  Some of our activities with existing businesses have included helping with 21 business expansions, 13 business retentions, 3 diversifications, 3 completed acquisitions, and 17 focused tune-ups.  We have helped our clients retain 28 jobs and create 75 full and part-time positions as well.

How does GROW work?

The GROW model is based on research conducted by the Sirolli Institute. This research has concluded that the best way to develop rural businesses is to have an Enterprise Facilitator (Allison in our case) provide free, confidential, one-on-one business coaching, assisting existing and would-be business owners to make informed decisions about the viability of their ideas. As this is a client-focused process, the client determines the pace and frequency of meetings with the Facilitator.

The Facilitator may utilize the 50+member local Resource Board to brainstorm solutions to a particular challenge faced by the entrepreneur.

We embrace and support our local small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs!

What else does GROW offer?:

Thanks to a generous grant from HUD, in partnership with the City of Lyons, we have been able to offer Microenterprise Assistance Classes. These classes compliment our facilitation and guided roundtable discussion offerings. More about this important offering can be found here.