A feature of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. (GGHI) is to provide business assistance and resource referral. This monthly Business Assistance Briefing is to share relevant and timely resources to support your business, regardless of size.
In today’s world it can be hard to navigate the waters when it comes to running your business, gaining access to capital, permitting, marketing woes, workforce needs, or just getting started – GGHI is here to assist.
Entrepreneur Academy
If you are thinking about starting a business in Washington State, you are in the right place. Experts from around the state have created an academy where you can master the skills needed to be a successful business owner, from producing the initial idea to avoiding those pesky beginner’s mistakes.
Best of all, there is no cost to you. So, what are you waiting for? A lifetime of learning is waiting for you in the Academy. The Entrepreneur Academy was created by the Washington State Department of Commerce to teach the skills needed to be a successful business owner. Starting and running your own business can be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. Believing that every resident has the right to a living wage job and equal access to education, training and support, Commerce created the Academy.
Click here to learn more about the Academy
Entrepreneur Expo: Connect, Learn and Thrive
Join us in November as we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Month, a time dedicated to honoring the entrepreneurs who tirelessly serve their communities and contribute to the strength of the American economy.
The Entrepreneur Expo half-day event, presented in partnership with Washington State Department of Commerce and Greater Grays Harbor Inc., promises to be an inspiring and informative gathering.
Agenda Highlights:
- ChatGPT: Revolutionizing Business
- Discover how ChatGPT is reshaping the business landscape, offering valuable insights into its applications for both startup and existing enterprises.
- Unlocking the Potential of the Young Workforce
- Learn the distinct characteristics of GenZ and how you recruit and market to a unique yet powerful demographic.
- Access to Capital: Navigating Current Programs
- Explore the diverse programs and opportunities available to businesses, helping you secure the capital needed for growth and success.
Do not miss this opportunity to network, learn, and celebrate entrepreneurship. Join us for a half day filled with expert speakers, invaluable information, and the chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts.
Stay tuned here for more details as we prepare to empower our local businesses during Global Entrepreneurship Month.
For inquiries please contact: Chris Wills at Chris.Wills@commerce.com
AJAC – Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships
Over the past 13 years, AJAC has built one of the largest statewide instructional workforces of industry professionals and subject matter experts, with the vast majority of our 60 part-time instructors currently working in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. Most of these instructors teach our apprenticeship classes in the evening and/or weekends, allowing them to continue to work in industry during the day (and helping to ensure that our classroom instruction remains current to the changing needs of these industries).
AJAC has worked diligently to create and implement industry-driven curriculum for the different occupations that we provide registered apprenticeship training. By working with employers, subject matter experts, and educational partners, AJAC can provide high quality, relevant curriculum that our instructors provide in over 40 unique classroom settings each quarter at community colleges, high schools, and regional skill centers.
Discover more about AJAC here.
Looking for access to capital?
- The Small Business Administration (SBA) has several programs that allow a business to apply for diverse types of funding programs designed to increase access to capital for small business owners.
- The SBA hosts Webinar Wednesday that help navigate their loan programs and ask questions that are relevant to your business needs.
Wondering who to turn to?
- Many of our lenders in the Grays Harbor area work very closely with the SBA, but there are also lenders outside of Grays Harbor that serve small businesses. Please utilize SBA’s Find Lenders page and fill out the information.
- Do business with GGHI members by visiting finance lenders in the GGHI Business Directory
Greater Grays Harbor hosts a Business Assistance page on our website that provides a lengthy list of resources related to startups and other business support.
We are happy to conduct a meeting with you to discuss business needs and how to navigate the vast resource network. Please reach out to Loretta Thomas, Program Manager for Business Development at GGHI if you have questions or need some guidance along your business journey.