Business planning course offered in La Grande, Enterprise, Baker City

Interested in opening or strengthening your business? The first step is to develop a business plan.

You can create a plan in seven weeks with the Foundations business planning course offered by the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District. 

Dan Austin of Austin Tool and Machine in Elgin completed the course last year. He said the experience helped make him a better businessman.

“I found the course to be very inspiring and informative with a lot of synergy and networking between the participants,” he said.

The Foundations business course will be offered in Baker City, La Grande and Enterprise. The weekly sessions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Baker City class will meet Monday evenings beginning Oct. 20. La Grande classes will be held on Tuesdays starting Oct. 21. The first Enterprise class will be held Oct. 22 with the remaining sessions held on Thursday evenings.

Cost for the seven sessions is $100. Participants who meet income guidelines may apply for a scholarship.

“As a participant you will receive detailed, constructive feedback as you go through the business plan process, step by step,” said instructor Lisa Dawson of NEOEDD.

Dawson said instructors act as facilitators, using interactive activities and drawing on the expertise and experiences of class participants.

  “We have consistently received excellent feedback from participants,” said Dawson.

Anyone interested in starting a business or expanding an existing business can sign-up for the Foundations class by calling Pam Frolander at NEOEDD at 541-426-3598 or 800-645-9454.