[OMS_MANAGERS] Training for Downtown Business Owners

[Lise Grato]

FINANCE 101 - One thing we found last year was many businesses didn’t have their financials in order and weren’t ready to apply for local grants. We also had some self eliminate from county COVID grants because they didn’t understand the language in the application. The form said applicants had to have 1+ FTE. One owner said he couldn’t apply because he had no full-time employees. He had numerous part-time employees. He didn’t know FTE starts for Full Time  equivalent.  Another wasn’t going to apply as he and his wife don’t pay themselves. That grant was open to them, the 1+ FTE was just to establish it wasn’t a hobby business. Yes, I caught both before the deadline and they received grants. Also the phrase “interim financials” was not understood.

SOCIAL MEDIA - there are likely way too many classes out there on the subject. But with Snapchat and TickTock joining the party, there might be room for another class or an overview of some kind.

I try to get businesses to work smarter not harder. They can schedule Facebook and Instagram through Facebook business manager and making them the same or somewhat different. They can schedule a handful of posts at one sitting. Then let it go other than watching for notifications and answering questions from potential customers.

We found that doing a class for Retail Businesses right after closing time or on a Monday (when many are closed) with some complementary cocktails was a fun fit. We ci-hosted the event in a retail shop and brought in a speaker from the local community college. Attendees check out the merchandise before heading to the formal presentation. And I know we got some register rings for the host business as well.

Those are my initial thoughts.

Thanks,

Lise Grato
Executive Director
Albany Downtown Association

Lise Grato
Executive Director
Albany Downtown Association

W: (541) 928-2469
C: (541) 905-2908

Sent from my iPhone
________________________________
From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of Eddie Nelson via OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 11:38:15 AM
To: Oregon Main Street Program Managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>; Marlene Cox <latitudeone at hotmail.com>
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] Training for Downtown Business Owners

Good afternoon everyone,

The Dallas Downtown Association has an opportunity to receive funding for training our downtown business owners to help with recovery from the pandemic.  I am looking for ideas that you would feel benefit downtown business owners in having successful downtown businesses and on line presence.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Eddie Nelson
Dallas Downtown Association
503-857-5042
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/oms_managers/attachments/20210927/23e9fcb1/attachment.html>