Business Development Workshops

New Vision, the Yakima County Development Association, the Yakima Valley SCORE Chapter and the Yakima Valley Entrepreneur Network are offering a series of basic business development workshops.  The ‘Business Basics – Working Lunch Series’ are the first four in an ongoing series of classes to be offered throughout Yakima County at revolving locations and time frames depending on demand.  The workshops will be taught by SCORE counselors and professionals with real-world business experience.

The first workshop will be Plan your Business, held Wednesday, February 4th from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m.  This workshop will give a general overview of starting a business including responsibilities of owning a business, corporate structure, financing, licensing and getting started.  Future classes will be Business Plan Basics, Financing your Business and Marketing your Business.

Future topics may include: 

• Human Resource Management
• Preparing a Loan Package (what the banks really want)
• Accounting Basics
• Government Contracting
• Legal Issues
• Website Development
• Making a Pitch
• ‘Green’ Business

The Working Lunch series are $10.00 each and include lunch and materials.  All workshops will be held at the Central Washington Business Resource Center, 10 North 9th Street, Yakima, WA  98901.  Future workshops will be held throughout the County as well.

“These workshops are a great opportunity for the entrepreneur or small business owner to evaluate their readiness for starting a business,” notes Tammy Everts, New Vision Business Development Director. “All too often, people fail to realize how much time and money starting and running a business requires; this is a chance to learn if they are ready to get started.”

The Yakima Valley Entrepreneur Network was recently created by New Vision to assist emerging entrepreneurs, help established businesses succeed and provide networking events and ongoing support for entrepreneurs in Yakima County.

The Yakima Valley SCORE Chapter offers free, confidential counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs.  SCORE is actively recruiting new volunteers who would be interested in mentoring potential business owners a few hours a month; there is especially a need in the Lower Valley.

To register for one or all of the classes, please call Tammy Everts at 509.575.1140 or email tammy@ycda.com.