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HomeMy WebLinkAbout071124 - Entrepreneurs Meetup_ A RecapALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Young leaders gathered to envision a future Jefferson County community <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=364c70e0c9&e=7023ab5d8e> ENTREPRENEURS MEETUP Young leaders gathered to envision a future community that supports small businesses and their owners, employees, and families. Engaging a diverse range of people and sharing the information, ideas, and perspectives they generate is fundamental to JCF’s mission to build a future for Jefferson County where everyone can thrive. This document is part of a series of “knowledge products” designed to broadly share community information being generated through our daily work. On May 15, 2024, Jefferson Community Foundation hosted an Entrepreneurs Meetup at Marrowstone Island. We wanted to ask small business owners how they envision the next 15-20 years in Jefferson County and how JCF, working with local nonprofits, could help make this a more supportive environment for their growth and success. Over twenty small business owners throughout the county attended. Here are some of the highlights of their discussions along with suggestions for donations that would support their vision. <https://mcusercontent.com/2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262/images/c84862dd-46b8-1526-7c48-3e7ac94712a5.jpeg> <https://mcusercontent.com/2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262/images/76ddbef9-9b9f-98ef-08e7-65bc9190b869.jpeg> <https://mcusercontent.com/2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262/images/7b4902b3-ece2-9c82-26ba-cbc7f74e6b72.jpeg> <https://mcusercontent.com/2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262/images/15661df2-a673-3400-e0ca-f8f23792a3ef.jpeg> HOUSING The greatest concern the entrepreneurs voiced was affordable housing. They believe more low- and mid-range housing options need to be available so that the cost of housing for themselves and their employees can be closer to 30% of household monthly income. Currently, many spend 50% or more of their monthly household income on housing. Here are some organizations are working on increasing local affordable workforce housing: Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=7bfaf87ebd&e=7023ab5d8e> Bayside Housing and Services <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=c2f4b717a7&e=7023ab5d8e> Olympic Housing Trust <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=90621c1b81&e=7023ab5d8e> Housing Solutions Network <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=8f1eab5926&e=7023ab5d8e> PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES Small business owners would like more professional and affordable support in areas such as succession planning, business planning, and strategy development. They welcome more mentors. They would like to lower costs through shared services such as professional staff, tech support and office space. They would like more loan opportunities to be made available. Local organizations working on these issues include: EDC Team Jefferson <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=771bd58911&e=7023ab5d8e> Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=826a074980&e=7023ab5d8e> Local Investment Opportunities Network (LION) <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=8f08c07888&e=7023ab5d8e> YOUTH TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT These local entrepreneurs would like more support for youth so they can stay in Jefferson County for work. They envision a stronger bridge to employment for young people, including more workforce development programs at local high schools, including trade certifications, continuing education programs and skilled worker training. They also want to offer young people opportunities beyond the trades by ensuring innovation and entrepreneurship are taught in local schools. This includes not only high school but also grade school level. Additionally, they would like to see more support for young people to learn technology. The following organizations provide training opportunities for youth: OWL360 <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=33f4753b57&e=7023ab5d8e> Community Boat Project <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=06a1ca9ed8&e=7023ab5d8e> Skillmation <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=3f5fb0e171&e=7023ab5d8e> Jefferson Healthcare Workforce Development Program <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=c38dc319d9&e=7023ab5d8e> Northwest Maritime Center Maritime Career Immersion <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=911ff92436&e=7023ab5d8e> BUYING & TRANSPORTING PRODUCTS LOCALLY There was a robust discussion about encouraging the residents of Jefferson County to buy locally grown or produced items, utilize local service providers, and patronize local businesses, artists, and makers. There is a need for an easier way for local consumers to access these businesses, for example a local sales platform or a common “Made in Jefferson County” brand that could be marketed. Also, they want access to more production and storage spaces along with a broader range of suppliers. Over the last two years, Jefferson Community Foundation and EDC Team Jefferson incubated Jeffco Created, <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=b3435b3a26&e=7023ab5d8e> initially founded as the Creative Entrepreneurship Network. CHILDCARE & YOUTH FACILITIES/ACTVITIES Business owners struggle with the fact that Jefferson County is a childcare desert. They feel this is a huge obstacle to encouraging workers and their families to move here and stay. They articulated a need for childcare options starting from birth to school age. They also need full-day childcare options and more resources for working families. Competitive compensation for childcare work was key in their conversation. A new idea is to create a pool of funds that would help people start in-home childcare businesses. Families and business owners with children often leave Jefferson County due to a lack of activities and state of the art facilities for sports and recreation. Advocacy for childcare is needed. To learn more about childcare advocacy, go to Childcare Aware Washington <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=75fa190202&e=7023ab5d8e> . Additional organizations supporting local youth opportunity include: YMCA of Jefferson County <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=9d025c1314&e=7023ab5d8e> Jefferson County Parks and Recreation <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=00b0ad5f39&e=7023ab5d8e> Jefferson County Clubs: Little League <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=613838cb19&e=7023ab5d8e> and Soccer <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/tra ck/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=3b24778797&e=7023ab5d8e> For more information about how Jefferson Community Foundation can inform and support your charitable giving and community engagement, go to JCFgives.org <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/c lick?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=0c85636fa4&e=7023ab5d8e> or call (360) 385-1729. <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=738d6be6d0&e=7023ab5d8e> Share <https://jcfgives.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=9 76b46ec0b&e=7023ab5d8e> <https://us18.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=91a4101dbb&e=7023ab5d8e> Forward <https://us18.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=2d958d33b3a756c859d7fa262&id=91a4101dbb&e= 7023ab5d8e> Copyright © 2024 Jefferson Community Foundation, All rights reserved. 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