WADENA — Founded in 2011 out of a need for a voice in regional economic development, the Economic Alliance provides educational, networking, opportunity and advocacy resources to businesses and entrepreneurs in Wadena County.
From training and resources on topics important to your business to networking and advocacy, Economic Alliance offers a series of workshops to help new and emerging business owners with a wide range of needs. Hope Williams, executive director of the Economic Alliance, said the upcoming series of courses is aimed at providing business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources to succeed.
“The Business 101 course is focused on people who are thinking about starting their own business, or who have already started one but are looking for business support and knowledge,” Williams says.
Hope Williams is Executive Director of the Economic Alliance.
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Business 101 will be held on Tuesday, October 1st from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Wadena District Chamber of Commerce office located at the Depot. Topics include how to take a business idea and turn it into an innovative plan that also benefits the community.
“We’ll be talking about things like accounting, marketing, legal structure, how to write a business plan,” Williams said.
Additional courses offered include Accounting and Marketing, which focus on specific topics that business owners can add to their business toolkit. Covering everything from the basics of financial literacy and elements of accounting software to important marketing strategies to help drive business growth, Williams says the goal is to provide opportunities for both current and future business owners. That’s what it means.
“It’s important for business owners to attend these events to add tools to their toolkit,” Williams said. “Accounting and marketing are some of the more difficult parts of running a business, so if a business owner can learn something that will help them grow their business, or even make owning their own business easier.” If you can, that’s a win.”
The Economic Alliance will also hold its annual Congressional Conversation on Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Wadena Area Chamber of Commerce. Brunch, including light snacks, will be served at 11 a.m. This year’s event will include 5th District Senator Paul Wuttke, 5th District Representative Krista Knudsen, 5th District B Representative Mike Weiner, and representatives from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce on a panel discussion. I plan to.
“This event is about networking, hearing from our representatives, and hearing updates on what’s happening at the state level,” Williams said, adding that panelists will be reaching out to help. Regions that said they can provide insight into what they are working on. Additional question time will be provided and the event is free to attend.
For more information on upcoming courses for business owners and entrepreneurs, please visit the Economic Alliance at https://www.thealliancemn.org/. To register for upcoming business courses, email Executive Director Hope Williams at wceda@wcta.net.
Nicole Stracek was a freelance writer for more than a decade before joining Wadena Pioneer Journal. She covers everything from city council and county board meetings to the latest news. The community reporter can be reached at 218-631-2561 or nstracek@wadenapj.com.
