Workshops for high-growth business to be offered in Pocatello, Idaho Falls

The Idaho Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) office based at Idaho State University will offer workshops in Pocatello beginning July 31 and Idaho Falls beginning Aug. 1 aimed at helping high-growth businesses that are struggling with profitability.

The workshops are part of a special project to help small- and medium-sized, high-growth companies in Idaho maximize profitability by streamlining their operations using integrated software solutions.

The workshops will be held on the following dates:

Pocatello – Workshop I, July 31; Workshop II, Sept. 11; ISU Business/Technology Center, 1651 Alvin Ricken Drive, (208) 232-4921.

Idaho Falls – Workshop I, Aug. 1; Workshop II, Sept. 12; Idaho Innovation Center, 2300 N. Yellowstone, (208) 523-1087.

Workshop I will examine the nature of high-growth companies, the types of issues they experience and strategies for improving and sustaining profitability. The workshop will introduce attendees to tools they can utilize to evaluate business processes and identify opportunities for improvement in their organizations. Consulting services and business resources will also be presented.

Workshop II will build on concepts for high-growth companies introduced in Workshop I. This course is an opportunity for participants to build the knowledge, skills and contacts needed to develop and implement effective technical, financial, organizational and interpersonal strategies. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system capabilities, potential benefits, and implementation strategies will also be discussed in detail.

Following the workshops, attendees will have an opportunity to apply for assistance in the selection and/or implementation of an ERP system. Through a competitive application process, the ISBDC will choose up to 12 companies from workshop attendees to receive a $20,000 grant to supplement their own company funds for such a project.

The project is supported by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration and project partners Idaho TechHelp and Kocer Consulting and Engineering.

“It is rare that we receive funding for this kind of project,” said Jim Hogge, ISBDC director. “The cost of a workshop of this caliber would typically be at least $1,000 and we expect that most companies will be able to quickly apply the concepts learned to see immediate bottom-line value.”

Jeff Fletcher will present at the workshop; he brings with him more than 20 years experience in business consulting, operations management, product development and manufacturing support. Fletcher is well acquainted with the challenges of managing profitable growth, having worked in high-growth environments himself in a Fortune 500 company as well as a small startup business.

<>The cost for the workshops is $49 for each session. All sessions last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. the day of each workshop or can be completed in advance at www.idahosbdc.org.