west of the rail business on track · ericsson.org to volunteer and/or arrange for your materials...
TRANSCRIPT
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business
Association
On Track
January/February 2012
MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a
community business service organization dedicated to the interests and concerns of our urban community in the context of promoting a
locally diverse, collaborative and viable business
environment. WRBA BOUNDARIES: N: East 34th Street E: Hiawatha Ave S: Minnehaha Parkway W: 15th Avenue South WRBA Board: Pres: Amos Deinard V.P.: Julie Irwin Treas: Anthony Thompson Scty: Denise Volk
Links WRBA web site Minneapolis Business Resources IRS info for small businesses
Lake Hiawatha Heart Warmer
Saturday, Februrary 11th Noon - 3:00 p.m.
Lake Hiawatha Park (2701 44th St. E,) A fun event to promote winter time family fun and local businesses. Check out the website HiawathaHeart.org for more information about the event. Organizers have decided not to add the tent this year, so the table space will be limited. The WRBA will have a table - we'll need members to help staff it. This will be an opportunity to promote the WRBA, as well as individual member businesses. Please contact Shirley at [email protected] to volunteer and/or arrange for your materials to be on display.
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WRBA Co-Hosts Meeting with LBA
Longfellow Business Association & West of the Rail Business Association Meet
Thursday, February 9, 2012 8:30 - 9:30 am
Gandhi Mahal community room - 3009 27th Avenue S
Tax Talk!
LBA/WRBA host Patrick Todd, City of Minneapolis Assessor and Ken Rowe from Hennepin County Taxpayer Service to discuss commercial property taxes. Here's your opportunity to get a general overview of the taxing process, talk about how the value of your property is assessed, discuss why your property taxes may have increased while your property value went down, and throw rotten tomatoes. Just kidding on that last one... See you there. FFI Ruth at [email protected] or 722-4529x1
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WRBA Website Gets a Facelift
The WRBA website - www.westoftherail.org - went through a facelift and update. (There might still be one technical piece to work out) Check it out. Please contact Shirley if you see problems,or if your member information needs an edit. We contracted with WRBA member Bob Schmitt to do the work. Thanks Bob! See more of Bob's work on his website: http://www.laughingwatersstudio.com/
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Renew your membership Don't forget! If you haven't already done so it's time to renew your membership for 2012. A membership form is available on the WRBA website Membership Information page.. Please recruit your business neighbor; ask them to join us.
West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business
Association
On Track
February/March 2012
MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a
community business service organization dedicated to the interests and concerns of our urban community in the context of promoting a
locally diverse, collaborative and viable business
environment. WRBA BOUNDARIES:
N: East 34th Street E: Hiawatha Ave S: Minnehaha Parkway W: 15th Avenue South WRBA Board: Pres: Amos Deinard V.P.: Julie Irwin Treas: Anthony Thompson Scty: Denise Volk
WELCOME New Members:
Ritzman Realty, Inc. Ella Ritzman www.ritzmanrealty.com
Salon38 3733 23rd Ave S Nancy Root & Karissa Lash
WRBA Annual Meeting
Wednesday, March 14th Noon - 1:15 p.m.
The Waters of Minnehaha 3733 23rd Avenue South
Please join us for our annual meeting on March 14th. We will elect Board members and officers, receive a financial report and review plans for the upcoming year. We will also hear from Cristen Capron, a marketing consultant with LivingSocial in the Twin Cities. LivingSocial "helps great local businesses find and keep more customers. We're a strategic marketing partner, creating online promotions that deliver real-world results." Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP byThursday, March 8th - to [email protected]
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It's Time to Renew Your Membership WRBA membership needs to be renewed every calendar year. If you haven't already done so it's time to renew your membership for 2012. If you joined in the last quarter of the year (Oct, Nov, or Dec.) your membership is valid through 2012. To renew your membership, please complete a membership form and make a donation of any amount. Last year donations ranged between $10 and $100. A membership form is available on the WRBA website Membership Information page.. Please recruit your business neighbor; ask them to join us.
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Member Focus You can see 26 of WRBA Member Bob Schmitt's paintings,including the first public showing of his 4-painting Superior Series at Abbott Northwestern Hospital now through
Links WRBA web site Minneapolis Business Resources IRS info for small businesses
the end of March 2012. The exhibit is installed in the lower level of the Wasie Building (outside the LiveWell Fitness Center) at 28th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis. Hours are M-TH 8am-9pm, F 8am-4:30pm
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Small Business Dreams Begin at
Hennepin County Library
What do a food vendor, an architectural consultant, and a rap artist have in common? They all started their small businesses with the help of Hennepin County Library's small business resources. Hennepin County Library's knowledgeable staff welcomes your business questions. Staff can help you navigate resources available in the libraries and online - on small business start-up and management, researching your product and competition, finding marketing information, creating client lists, buying a franchise, writing a business plan, and other topics. Hennepin County Library's print resources are plentiful "and our databases are powerful," said librarian Jim Magnuson in the Business, Science, and Government Documents
department of Hennepin County Library - Minneapolis
Central. For your convenience, databases at www.hclib.org, plus selected websites, are organized into more than 30 "subject guides," such as Business & Investments, Jobs & Careers, Patents & Trademarks, and Small Business. ReferenceUSA, D & B (Dun & Bradstreet) Million Dollar Directory, and Small Business Resource Center are amongthe databases that staff and patrons frequently rely on.
West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business Association
On Track
April, 2012
MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a
community business service organization dedicated to
the interests and concerns of our urban community in the context of promoting a
locally diverse, collaborative and viable business
environment. WRBA BOUNDARIES:
N: East 34th Street
E: Hiawatha Ave
S: Minnehaha Parkway
W: 15th Avenue South
WRBA Board:
Pres: Amos Deinard
V.P.: Susan Redmond
WRBA April Membership Meeting
Wednesday, April 11th Noon - 1:15 p.m.
The Waters of Minnehaha 3733 23rd Avenue South
Please join us for our monthly membership meeting.. We will be joined by Erik Hanson, Principal Project Coordinator with the city of Minneapolis, CPED, . Erik will tell us about available city programs to assist small businesses We will also spend some time discussing plans for the neighborhood garage sale day and a possible business fiar. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP by Friday, April 6th - to [email protected]
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It's Time to Renew Your Membership
WRBA membership needs to be renewed every calendar year. If you haven't already done so it's time to renew your membership for 2012. If you joined in the last quarter of the year (Oct, Nov, or Dec.) your membership is valid through 2012. To renew your membership, please complete a membership form and make a donation of any amount. Last year donations ranged between $10 and $100. A membership form is available on the WRBA website Membership Information page.. Please recruit your business neighbor; ask them to join us.
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Treas: Anthony Thompson
Scty: Cynthia Frost
At-Large: Kori Mortenson
Links
WRBA web site
Minneapolis Business
Resources
IRS info for small
businesses
Doing Business Online - Webinar Series
University of Minnesota Extension is offering a series of online webinars to teach small business owners and managers about using various online tools strategically and having a more effective online presence. Registration is $20 which allows you to attend as many webinars as you like from the list below. For those who cannot attend at the given times recording will be made available. Please register at: http://www.regonline.com/smallbusinessonlinewebinars The website address / URL to attend the webinars will be provided after you register. Webinar topics 1. Mobile eMarketing - Wednesday, March 28th; 11am -12pm (Date has passed - recording will be made available.)
Mobile devices like iPhones and Androids are generating the bulk of internet traffic these days. What is different in the way people use these devices on the internet compared to PCs? Learn strategies for connecting with the mobile crowd with such tools as mobile websites, mobile apps, QR codes, and digital coupons.
2. Getting found on Maps - Wed., April 11th 11am -12pm From Google Maps to Yelp, people are relying on location based services to find goods and services. Learn about the different ways people are findings places to go, and how to make your business a destination.
3. Facebook for business - Tuesday, April 24th 11am - 12pm You have a Facebook business page but are struggling to make good use of it. Learn examples of strategies and tactics various small businesses are using to engage with customers.
4. Using Pinterest for market research-Tues. May 8th 11am-12 Pinterest is the hottest new social media tool. Find out how and why people are using it. We will explore several ways businesses can use Pinterest to discover market trends and for marketing.
5. Getting high on Google (Basics of SEO) - Tues., May 22nd 11am to 12p How easy is your business to find on Google Search? Attend this workshop to learn some straight-forward ways to get higher on Google search
Please register online at: http://www.regonline.com/smallbusinessonlinewebinars
West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business Association
On Track
May, 2012
MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a
community business service organization dedicated to the
interests and concerns of our urban community in the
context of promoting a locally diverse, collaborative and
viable business environment. WRBA BOUNDARIES:
N: East 34th Street E: Hiawatha Ave S: Minnehaha Parkway W: 15th Avenue South WRBA Board: Pres: Amos Deinard V.P.: Susan Redmond Treas: Anthony Thompson Scty: Cynthia Frost At-Large: Kori Mortenson
WRBA May Membership Meeting
Wednesday, May 9th Noon - 1:15 p.m.
The Waters of Minnehaha 3733 23rd Avenue South
This month we will be having a Working Meeting .We have a lot of things to work on for this summer and fall:
Increasing membership
Revisions to BAAP grant - decisions about which marketing program to launch.
Major marketing program using LRT advertising
Plans for Garage Sale June 9th
Job Fair - June 9th Please come and bring your energy and ideas with you.
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Small Business Fair - June 9th Hosted by West of the Rail Business Association, Hiawatha Yoga and Laurel Clift of Arbonne.
June 9, 2012 11 am - 2 pm
Corcoran Park - 3334 20th Av S. An affordable opportunity for home based and small local businesses to showcase their services. Registration fee $30, WRBA members $20. You can find a vendor application athttp://www.westoftherail.org/events/ or email [email protected].
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Links WRBA web site Minneapolis Business Resources IRS info for small businesses
Standish, Ericsson & Corcoran
Neighborhood Garage Sale - June 9 On Saturday, June 9th, the Neighborhood Garage sale will bring hundreds of garage sale shoppers to our area. We will be talking more at our membership meeting about ways businesses can take advantage of this opportunity to promote your business and find new customers. The Garage Sale map will include a large ad for the WRBA. In addition, members receive a discount on an individual add in the map. Business card size ads are $35 for non-members; $25 for members. If you're interested in purchasing an ad, please contact [email protected].
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WRBA Receives City Business Association Assistance Program Grant We received notice from the city of Minneapolis that the WRBA has been approved for a $4,450 BAAP grant for 2012. This is not quite as much as we asked for, so we will need to make some revisions to our budget and our plans for this year. These fund will allow the WRBA to continue to work on membership recruitment and marketing for this year.
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June Meeting - Legislative Update
Wednesday, June 20th 11:45 AM - 1:00PM
Ghandi Mahal, 3009 27th Avenue South
Our local elected officials (Rep. Jim Davnie, Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin have confirmed) will update us about new legislation affecting businesses with a time for Q&A, moderated by Jim Welna Lunch will be provided by Ghandi Mahal for $10. A joint meeting with the Longfellow Business Association and the Seward Civic and Commerce Association.
West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business Association
On Track
September, 2012
In this Issue:
September Membership Meeting
October meeting
November meeting
Urban Sites Stormwater Tour
SBA loan search tool
WELCOME
To our newest members: Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub Amy Johnson smokehousebrewpub.com Angry Catfish Bicycle Shop & Coffee Bar Joshua Klauck angrycatfishbicycle.com
Links WRBA web site Minneapolis Business Resources
September Membership Meeting
Wednesday, September 12th Noon - 1:15 p.m.
The Waters of Minnehaha 3733 23rd Avenue South
We will hear from Kelly Guncheon from Small Business
MN. Check out their website at http://www.smallbusinessmn.org
We will get an update on our LRT marketing campaigns and make some decisions about our neighborhood-focused campaign.
Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP by Friday, September 7th - to [email protected]
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October - working meeting
Noon - 1:15 p.m.
The Waters of Minnehaha
3733 23rd Avenue South
Work on our LRT marketing project is underway. We plan to have designs to review at the October meeting. We will also use the time to do some planning for the next year. Please come. We need your input.
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SAVE THE DATE
November 8th - 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Our November meeting will be a joint meeting with the Longfellow Business Association and the Seward Civic and Commerce Association. We are still working on the details, but the meeting will center around energy issues and will hopefully offer some helpful resources. We will let you know the details as soon as they're developed.
IRS info for small businesses
MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a community
business service organization dedicated to the interests and
concerns of our urban community in the context of promoting a locally diverse,
collaborative and viable business environment.
WRBA BOUNDARIES:
N: East 34th Street E: Hiawatha Ave S: Minnehaha Parkway W: 15th Avenue South WRBA Board: Pres: Amos Deinard V.P.: Susan Redmond Treas: Anthony Thompson Scty: Cynthia Frost At-Large: Kori Mortenson
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Urban Sites Stormwater Tour
Thursday, September 13th 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Bus tour departs at 9:00 a.m. from 7-SIGMA, 2843 26th Ave S, Mpls Are you a business owner, building owner, landscape designer or contractor? This tour is for you! Tour Highlights -- See storm water management best practices in a variety of settings at sites large and small. -- The designers, project managers and contractors who did the work will be present. -- Tour includes 7 stops to see rain gardens, a cistern, green wall, and the first living wall in MN. Tour and lunch are FREE! Reservations Required: Contact Ruth at [email protected] or 612-722-4529 x1 Presented by the Longfellow Business Association with funding from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
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Eligible for Government Financing? Use SBA's Search Tool Looking to grow your business? Not sure you'll qualify for a traditional business bank loan? SBA's program of government-backed (or guaranteed) loans make it possible for many small businesses to get the financing they need to grow their business without using working capital. Find out more about how to use the search tool or go directly to the search tool to find out more.
West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business
Association
On Track
November, 2012
In this Issue:
LRT Ad Campaign
November meeting
We need your help
Urban Sites Stormwater Tour
SBA loan search tool
WELCOME to our newest members:
Atrebla Early Learning Center Colossal Cafe Sea Wolf Tattoo Company St.Mane's Sporting Goods Pupuseria La Palmera Cardinal Restaurant & Bar Carbone's Pizza Thompson Exteriors Heidi Hyphen Accessories
Links WRBA web site Minneapolis Business Resources
LRT Ad Campaign Launch Date Set
The WRBA/SENA Steering Committe has approved the final designs; the contract with Titan advertising is finalized;.the campaign dates are set.
Look for the ads to appear on the light rail platforms and inside the cars beginning November 24th. The campaign will run for 4 weeks. The platform locations we know we have (so far) are:
28th Avenue
38th Street
46th Street
Cedar Riverside
Fort Snelling
Franklin Ave
Lake Street
Mall of America
Metrodome
Veteran's Hospital
Warehouse See more information below.
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November meeting
How to get an Energy Boost Thursday, Nov 8th, 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Gandhi Mahal community room, 3009 27th Ave S A Forum hosted by the Longfellow Business Association, Seward Civic & Commerce Association, and the WRBA
Does thinking about your business's energy usage sap all of yours? This forum is designed to help. Hear from a panel of experts who will share energy efficiency strategies with you. We'll talk about the game-changing technology available and the financing mechanisms that can bring it within your reach. Industry professionals will be available to answer your energy questions and talk about what it would take to get your business evaluated for cost saving potential. There will be no WRBA meeting in December.
IRS info for small businesses
MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a community
business service organization dedicated to the interests and
concerns of our urban community in the context of promoting a locally diverse,
collaborative and viable business environment.
WRBA BOUNDARIES:
N: East 34th Street E: Hiawatha Ave S: Minnehaha Parkway W: 15th Avenue South WRBA Board: Pres: Amos Deinard V.P.: Susan Redmond Treas: Anthony Thompson Scty: Cynthia Frost At-Large: Kori Mortenson
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Making the most of our ad campaign
There are some things WRBA members need to do to help make our LRT ad campaign successful.
1. Take the time to ask new customers where they heard about you. We need to know if the ads directed new people to your business.
2. If your current customers tell you they've seen the ads, please note that and report it to the steering committee.
3. Take advantage of the Guide to Big Deals that has been added to our website. It's still a work in progress, but take a minute to check it out. If you'd like to add your own "Big Deal" or just a statement about who and what you are, please send that information to [email protected]. The guide will continue after the ad campaign is done and we can update it at any point.
4. Continue to recruit new members. Even though the LRT ads are finalized, we can still add new members to our web page. A list of members will also be included on an insert for the SENA, Corcoran and Bancroft newsletter ((nearly 7,500 households).
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Here's an ad preview:
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West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)
Local Stops . . . . Local Shops
West of the Rail Business Association
On Track
End of Year, 2012
In this Issue:
LRT Ad Campaign
Jan. Annual Meeting
SBA Business Plan Tool
WELCOME to our newest members:
Bergan's Super Valu Barbara E. Erlandson, Immigration Attorney Oaks Station Place Apts. In the Kut Barbers
Links WRBA web site Minneapolis Business Resources IRS info for small businesses
LRT Ad Campaign Almost Done
Hopefully everyone got a chance to see the great ads all along the Hiawatha Line of the LRT. Please review the list below for ways you can contribute to the success of the ad campaign.
At the 38th Street Station:
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Making the most of our ad campaign
There are some things WRBA members need to do to help make our LRT ad campaign successful.
1. Take the time to ask new customers where they heard about you. We need to know if the ads directed new people to your business.
2. If your current customers tell you they've seen the ads, please note that and report it to the steering committee.
3. Take advantage of the Guide to Big Deals that has been added to our website. It's still a work in progress, but take a minute to check it out. If you'd like to add your own "Big Deal" or just a statement about who and what you are, please send that information to [email protected]. The guide will continue after the ad campaign is done and we can update it at any point.
4. The LRT ads will come down soon, but we we can still add new members to our web page, so please continue to recruit.
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MISSION STATEMENT
The West of the Rail Business Association is a
community business service organization dedicated to the interests and concerns of our urban community in the context of promoting a
locally diverse, collaborative and viable business
environment. WRBA BOUNDARIES:
N: East 34th Street E: Hiawatha Ave S: Minnehaha Parkway W: 15th Avenue South WRBA Board: Pres: Amos Deinard V.P.: Susan Redmond Treas: Anthony Thompson Scty: Cynthia Frost At-Large: Kori Mortenson
January - Annual Meeting
We're still working on the details for our Annual Meeting in January. We will let you know as soon
as things are set.
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SBA.gov Announces New Online Tools
SBA.gov (U.S. Small Business Administration) recently announced the addition of new online tools, including one that will help you through the process of creating a business plan. Check it out at http://www.sba.gov/business-plan/1 .
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Wishing you all a safe, happy and very
busy holiday season!
.
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West of the Rail Business Association / 1830 East 42nd Street / Minneapolis, MN 55407 612.721.1601 [email protected]
(A project of the Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association)