December 19, 2019 3:40 a.m.
The City of Roseburg has received a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant from Business Oregon.
Communications Specialist Eric Johnson said the grant is awarded to rural cities and counties each year and will go towards development of a small business-training program for eligible entrepreneurs in Douglas County.
Johnson said the CDBG, administered by Business Oregon, finances programs that build and expand economic opportunities for rural areas of Oregon. Projects funded by the program are categorized in six areas:
*Microenterprise
*Public Works
*Community/Public Facilities
*Community Capacity/Technical Assistance
*Regional Housing Rehabilitation
*Emergency Projects.
In August the City of Roseburg applied for and won the Microenterprise grant.
Community Development Director Stuart Cowie said it’s a “fantastic opportunity to provide basic administration education to low- or moderate-income entrepreneurs in our community”. He said the hope is that the training can help someone build their business and in turn help the local economy.
Johnson said the City partnered the CCD Business Development Corporation to create and implement the Microenterprise Assistance Services Program. It is available for microenterprises, which are businesses with five or fewer employees, including the owner. He said the program teaches eligible entrepreneurs core concepts on how to run a small business. The curriculum includes writing a business plan, conducting marketing research, understanding financial statements and customer service training.
Johnson said starting next month, the CCD Business Development Corporation starts the student recruitment for its program. Businesses who are interested and eligible to participate can contact the CCD Business Development Corporation at 672-6728 or go to www.ccdbusiness.org.