NEF Client Wins 2008 Labovitz Award

The company, which employs 18 people, manufactures upholstery and other interior items for the aviation industry. A past Northeast Entrepreneur Fund loan client, SCS beat out five other nominees in this category.  NEF had nominated SCS for the award.
 

The Labovitz Awards were established to recognize the contributions of entrepreneurs in the Arrowhead region. The awards ceremony, held at the DECC, was attended by 350 other nominees, business owners and civic leaders. The Greenstone Group, an NEF initiative designed to enhance the professional development of area entrepreneurs, was a major sponsor of this year’s Labovitz Awards event. NEF president Mary Mathews was the presenter for the Established Entrepreneur category.
 

Lincoln Park Business Incubator Open House in May

The Lincoln Park Business Group of Duluth will host an open house for its new business incubator program beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. The location’s address is 102 South 29th Avenue West, Suite 204. This event is FREE and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Through this program, an at-home business or start-up company can lease an office space for approximately 50 percent of the market value. That also includes services such as telephone, fax, and internet. Office furniture will be provided to the selected business along with access to a photocopier. Other services will be available based on a fee schedule.  The available office space is located between the Duluth Heritage Sports Center and the Post Office on Michigan Street.

“This program was developed to build the economic base in Lincoln Park while growing our membership,” said Heath Hickok, executive director of the Lincoln Park Business Group. “It will also assist a new business in the expensive and often difficult transition into a more permanent commercial space.”

The Lincoln Park Business Group is partnering with other business development organizations to create a “Business Resource Tool Box.”  The Northeast Entrepreneur Fund is partnering to assist with business planning and assessment.

The Lincoln Park Business Group is a non-profit organization 501(C)3 whose mission is to assist and promote the growth of the Lincoln Park community through business and economic development. They are leading the efforts to improve Lincoln Park’s image by working with businesses, residents, and other city organizations to reduce crime, develop new business opportunities, and improve the streetscapes of the great Lincoln Park District.
 

Iron Range Regional Business After Hours

Thursday, May 8
5:00-7:00 PM
Chisholm-Hibbing Municipal Airport
11038 Hwy 37, Hibbing, MN
$5 (Chamber members)
$10 (non-members)

Hosted by the Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Authority

Sponsored by Chisholm, Grand Rapids, Hibbing,
and Laurentian Chambers of Commerce
 

"Creating Partnerships in Organizations"

Tuesday, May 20
8:00 am-5:00 pm
Bluefin Bay Resort - Tofte, MN
Fee: $125 (registration must be received by May 14)

Creating and maintaining partnerships within your workplace is key to a well-run and effective organization. This professional development workshop gets to the heart of partnership in organization life – why partnership is critical to organization success, what gets in the way of developing it, and the role leaders have in making it happen.

“Creating Partnerships in Organizations” is designed for managers, administrators and leaders. Award-winning leadership coach and author Marcia Hyatt of Waterline Coaching Services is the instructor for the class. Ms. Hyatt has a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Minnesota. She is a certified ICA facilitator and a senior associate with Power + Systems, Inc. In 1998, she co-founded the Center for Emerging Leadership (CEL), an intentional learning community of women leaders.

Sponsored by Cook County Higher Education.  Call 218-387-3411 or email highered@boreal.org to register.
 

2008 Manufacturing Advantage Conference:
Resources for Innovation and Growth

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn how to make measurably smarter choices for business growth! Through dynamic, hands-on demonstrations, simulations, and workshops, Manufacturing Advantage will get you and your team actively involved with the resources available to improve and grow your business. Keynote speaker Doug Hall will jump start your brain with creative ways to ignite more sales, develop smarter marketing, and succeed with breakthrough innovation.  Over 40 sessions to choose from including hands-on activities, simulations and workshops.

Wednesday, May 21
7:00 am-7:00 pm
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI
$219 (register by May 7); $269 (register after May 7)

Sponsored by the Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center and its partners.

http://www.uwstout.edu/outreach/conf/mfg/
 

This Month's Featured Entrepreneurial Resources… 

WikiPatents
www.wikipatents.com

WikiPatents has a database of millions of patents and patent applications, allows PDF downloading of patents, provides file histories, and other helpful information.  It is an excellent free resource for researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and students.

IRS Launches Campaign to Help New Small Businesses
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=181721,00.html

The Internal Revenue Service launched a campaign last week to help education new self-employed small business owners about federal tax responsibilities.