How Enterprise Facilitation Come To Central Oregon
I want to tell you how Wy’East Resource Conservation & Development Area Council started its most successful program that broutht huge benefits to communities in Central Oregon.
Wy’East initiated the as a service to address the need to capture the passion and ideas of self-motivated entrepreneurs to start, manage and develop successful small business microenterprises.
Wy'East initiated Enterprise Facilitation® as a community-based, "people-centered" community economic development strategy pioneered by the Sirolli Institute.
Determined, Wy’East could make a difference to change troubled communities, we looked for opportunities for change. Several Wy’East Council members attended a workshop introducing us to Enterprise Facilitation by Ernesto Sirolli founder of the Sirolli Institute.
During the summer of 2005, four of us attended a Sirolli Institute Observatory hosted by the Baker Enterprise Growth Initiative (BEGIN) in Baker City Oregon. We learned about the philosophy, values and approaches needed to create an Enterprise Facilitation project in Central Oregon.
Wy’East Council made the decision to seek funding. We applied to foundations and government agencies for grant funding to develop the project. Funds came from USDA Rural Development, Oregon Community and Economic Development, the City of Maupin.
In April 2008, the resource board began introducing the enterprise facilitator (business coach) to members of their community. Take a look at the number of entrepreneurs assisted and small business microenterprises started.