Reedsport workshop to cover keeping business local

The Southwestern Oregon Community College Business Development Center is teaming up with several partners to offer a seminar in Reedsport designed to show individuals how to help their local economy and businesses keep local dollars in town.

South Coast residents and business people will have the opportunity to attend the free workshop “Creating a Buy Local Community” scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at the Port of Umpqua conference room in Reedsport. Presenter Michael Shuman will discuss techniques to keep local dollars from escaping town, and participants will learn what steps communities can take to increase community self-reliance.

Shuman, an attorney and economist, is vice president for enterprise development for the Training & Development Corporation of Bucksport, Maine. He has written, co-written or edited seven books, including The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition. Nearly 100 of his articles have been published in a variety of publications, including The New York Times and Washington Post. Shuman’s books and articles explore people, practices and policies in the fields of technology, national security, citizen diplomacy, municipal foreign policy, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and business development.

The workshop is sponsored by the Umpqua Community Development Corporation in cooperation with the Port of Umpqua, Reedsport Chamber of Commerce, Southwestern Business Development Center and Umpqua Bank. It is funded with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and is made possible through cooperation with Connecting Oregon for Rural Entrepreneurship. Space is limited. To reserve space, those interested can contact the Southwestern Business Development Center at (541) 756-6778.

Press Release Date: March 2 , 2007