The Veneta-Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the City of Veneta and the Veneta Economic Development Committee (EDC) to create a subcommittee of the EDC, known as “Business Connect – Resource Sharing & Relationship Building.”

One area of the subcommittee’s focus is to connect local businesses with regional resources providers, especially businesses who may be emerging, in need of assistance, or wanting to expand. These resource providers can act as mentors and business counselors, help business owners access capital, finalize business plans, and more.

To accomplish this goal, Business Connect is forming the Veneta Small Business Assistance Center, housed in the Chamber of Commerce office. The space will act as a “mini-incubator” for businesses. The work space will include a PC and a Mac; a multifunction printer; a conference space; and a screen for presentations. Business owners who are not Chamber members will be able to utilize the office at an affordable rate, or have appointments with resource providers there. Trainings and workshops will also be held occasionally by business assistance organizations. Already, Business Connect has support from local employers, such as Banner Bank and West Lane Tech Charter School, and local business assistance organizations like Community Lending Works and Lane Community College’s Small Business Development Center.

To make this project a reality, our goal is to raise a total of $1,000 to support the Center’s opening in June, or receive in-kind donations of needed supplies and/or labor. We currently need to purchase operating systems and additional software for our computers, a multifunction printer, and one additional computer desk. We have also budgeted for printing promotional materials, advertising the Center.

Your contribution to the assistance center will go a long way to help emerging and small business owners’ access tools needed for success, and will help in our efforts to build a resilient, local economy. Sponsors with a donation of over $250 (who are not already Chamber members) also receive a free year of membership with the Chamber and a plaque within the office.

I would like to thank you for considering our request to team up with the Veneta-Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce for making this a valuable resource for the entire Fern Ridge Community. If you have any queries regarding our organization or the Center, please feel free to contact Marina Brassfield at mbrassfield@ci.veneta.or.us or 541-935-2191.