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Called the SME Toolkit (http://us.smetoolkit.org) it is an online resources and it has an array of new features providing expert advice for starting, growing or maintaining a business.
The new tools include daily expert advice by Jim Blasingame, the No. 1 ranked small business expert on the Internet. A new small business video learning series is available covering topics such as incorporating, bookkeeping, managing credit and avoiding burnout.
The toolkit was introduced last year in the U.S. for Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American and women-owned businesses, and contains thousands of how-to articles, free Web software, press release distribution offerings and directory listing, financial calculators, business readiness quizzes, human resources information and more. Most of the toolkit also is now available in Spanish.
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The North Coast Agritourism Conference will include speakers on tourism, evaluating resources, business plans, county regulations, managing risk, and marketing. A panel discussion will feature experienced agritourism operators from across the region, including Anne Austin of Eleven Roses Ranch and Lake County Wine Tours.
Agritourism includes a wide array of farm and farm-related activities states the US Department of Agriculture, including outdoor recreation, educational experiences such as cooking classes and wine tasting, entertainment such as harvest festivals and barn dances, hospitality services including overnight
stays and guided tours, and on-farm direct sales that include “u-pick” and roadside stands.
According to a recent USDA report released in December of 2007, farm-based recreation, which includes hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and other on-farm activities, provided income to about 52,000 farms across the country in 2004 and continues to grow.
Local farmers, ranchers, and others who are interested in developing the hidden assets of agricultural businesses are invited to register for this informative conference. An agritourism conference was held in Lake County in 2006 and sold out quickly, so early registrations are encouraged.
Registration fee is $40 for the conference and includes the University of California Agritourism manual, catered lunch, conference packet, and morning refreshments. The deadline to register is Nov. 7.
An agenda with registration information can be viewed or downloaded from the County of Lake website at www.co.lake.ca.us on the Economic Development page under Upcoming Events.
The Lake County Marketing and Economic Development program, a member of the North Coast Tourism Council, is sponsoring this conference along with the Mendocino County Promotional Alliance, UC Cooperative Extension Mendocino County, the City of Ukiah, and the Mendocino Winegrape and Wine commission.
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Spaces are still available in the two workshops on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. in Lakeport.
A waiting list for the one-on-one appointments on Friday, Nov. 7, which will give workshop attendees and others with basic Web site building skills, more tools and in-depth information, has been set up.
The workshops will help business owners and nonprofits create a Web site, research and register a domain name, and show step-by-step how to create a basic Web site. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a Web site, and know how to explore different options for Web site hosting.
The workshops are being led by Mike Saccomano, owner of Saccomano Associates, a Web development/marketing company, owner of AwesomeTools.com, and a consultant with the Yuba College Small Business Development Center.
Registration for one of Thursday’s workshops is $30. The one-on-one appointments to be held on Friday are free of charge, but are currently booked. You can get on the waiting list if a cancellation occurs; preference for these appointments are for workshop participants. The workshops and appointments will be held in Lakeport.
To register and for more information, contact Eileen Schmidtbauer, 263-0330 or
The Lake County Business Services Network is a network of service providers that work cooperatively to deliver no-cost and low-cost services and support to local business owners and entrepreneurs. The network comprises the County of Lake, City of Clearlake, City of Lakeport, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, Community Development Services, Employment Development Department, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mt. Konocti Facilitation, NCCC-Inc./Center of Business and Workforce Development, SAFE-BIDCO, and the Yuba College Small Business Development Center.
In-kind assistance is provided by the Lake County Office of Education.
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The meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be held at the Lakehouse Bistro at the Lamplighter, 14165 Lakeshore Drive.
The guest speaker will be Adekinko Esutoki with Small Biz.
For more information call the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 994-3600.
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