ENTERPRISE — A 10-session workshop series, called CO.STARTERS CORE, that equips entrepreneurs of all kinds with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn business ideas into action, will launch the first week of February in Northeastern Oregon.

The sessions will take place Monday nights in La Grande, Tuesday nights in Baker City and Thursday nights in Enterprise. Class sessions will run from 6-9 p.m. for 10 weeks.
Small-business entrepreneurs interested in successfully launching a small-business idea can visit neoedd.org/co-starters-core and RSVP for a space in the class. 

Small business remains one of the fundamental economic drivers for local economies and job creation. CO.STARTERS walks small-business owners or those with a business idea through lean, effective business modeling methods in a simple, visual and intuitive way, while connecting them to a supportive community of peers and mentors.

Participants are encouraged to build and test small models first. They will receive real-time customer feedback, update their models to meet customer needs and avoid creating businesses based on incorrect assumptions.


The workshop is being offered through a collaborative effort between Reinventing Rural, Launch Pad Baker, the Rural Engagement and Vitality Center and the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD). The program will be led by Lisa Dawson, NEOEDD’s executive director.