Below you will find information on TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BUSINESS LOANS, and free and confidential BUSINESS COACHING.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

NEOEDD is a good place to begin asking questions about issues that your business may be facing. We also offer a variety of business training opportunities, such as business planning and marketing workshops. If we can't meet your needs, we can provide referrals to other services available at the regional, state and federal level.

NEOEDD is ready to assist to any business seeking to start-up, expand or relocate in Baker, Union or Wallowa counties.  We can discuss business management and succession, import/export assistance, industry marketing and networking, financial assistance, business planning, infrastructure needs, relocation, workforce training, and environmental issues and assessment.

Contact staff at 541-426-3598 or 800-645-9454 to discuss your business needs.

BUSINESS LOANS

NEOEDD provides business financing services through several loan programs. A micro lending program provides small loans of $500 to $4,000. A revolving loan program provides loans up to $100,000. NEOEDD also provides access to Northeast Oregon Business Development loan program that can provide loans up to $150,000. We can also help businesses determine which Oregon state loan program best fits your project.

NEOEDD also provides information on the Northeast Oregon Alliance grants.        

For more information on loan and grant programs, select a link below:

BUSINESS FACILITATION - BUSINESS COACHING PROGRAMS

In Baker and Wallowa counties, Enterprise FacilitationTM programs can assist those who have an idea for a new business, but don’t know how to put all the pieces together. The business coaching programs also serve any existing business that needs help.

In Baker County, the program is Baker Enterprise Growth Initiative (BEGIN). In Wallowa County, the program is Wallowa County Business Facilitation (WCBF). Both programs follow the Sirolli Institute’s bottom-up model of entrepreneurial support.

These two programs draw on the expertise of a professional business facilitator and a volunteer local board to help each business owner build on their strengths and find ways to cover the areas of business operation that they are weaker in. The facilitator meets with the business owner at their convenience to provide confidential, on-demand business coaching services free-of charge for as long as the business desires.

The facilitator does not make decisions for the entrepreneur, but helps the entrepreneur access information needed to decide if a business idea is viable and how to move forward or strengthen an existing business.