SEED Corp Wins $25,000 State Grant
Gov. Joe Kernan has announced that $375,000 has been awarded to 15 community-based and not-for-profit organizations to provide capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Indiana.

SEED Corp. of Bloomington will receive $25,000 from the Microenterprise Partnership Program, which is managed by the Indiana Economic Development Council, a grant recipient.

SEED Corp. will use the state grant along with other funding to make Micro-Enterprise Loans to qualified borrowers. Self-employed Hoosiers and companies with five or fewer employees are eligible. Contact SEED Corp. to learn how to apply for a loan.

New Website to Help Small Businesses
Recently, the Indiana Department of Administration launched a new website for small businesses on how to do business with the state. Part of the Buy Indiana initiative, the comprehensive site was created to help make it easier for state government and Indiana companies to do business together.

New Version of QuickBooks Released for Small Businesses
Intuit has released a new version of QuickBooks, Simple Start. Simple Start is easier to use and includes the basic functions most small companies need: accounts receivable, accounts payable/ bill pay, check-write, and financial reporting, but excludes payroll and inventory tracking components.

"Quickbooks has historically been a strong contender in the accounting software market, but was viewed as complex and confusing by small business owners who don't have accounting knowledge," said SBDC Business Advisor . "This new version takes the basic functionality of the program and significantly simplifies it, making it even more attractive to the typical small business. And, at a retail price of $99.95, it's more affordable for small companies with tight cash flow”.

VOTE - NOVEMBER 2nd
The 2004 elections will be close. What will tip the scales? Your vote!

Voting is the tool citizens use to select leaders and to hold them accountable. When that tool is not used—when only a few citizens elect leaders and a large number of Americans do not participate in elections—the future of our democracy is threatened. The more we express our values and concerns through voting, the better our elected leaders will be able to represent us.

Monroe County voters wondering where they vote on Tuesday have a new resource to check: Citizens' Toolkit. You can enter your address to find your polling place, find links on the candidates for office, and even view a sample ballot.

Information is also available on the Monroe County Clerk's site, or by phoning the county voter registration office at
349-2690. Please vote on November 2nd.

Mystery Shopper Program
Will your business or organization be ready to handle this season's holiday crowds?

Gain knowledgeable, unbiased insight into how your company is perceived by your customers. The SBDC's Mystery Shopper program sends a customer into your business who reports back on customer service, price, store cleanliness, etc. The results are delivered in a written report that identifies areas that need improvement.

Get YOUR business check-up today by for information. Or call Tim directly at 812-339-8937.

November 3: eBay - The Right Way
What: Learn how to sell on eBay the right way!
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: $85 (includes lunch and book)
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 3: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $20
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 4: Small Business Forum
What: Learn what valuable services and resources are available to your business.
Where: Indiana Gov't Center South Auditorium, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
Time: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: Jerry Selby at 317-226-7604 to Register

November 9: Financial Tools & Incentives Workshop
What: A 3-hour refresher workshop for bankers to include presentations from SBA, USDA - Rural Development, USDA - FSA, IDFA, ISBDC, IDOC/DWD
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 9: QuickBooks Simple Start
What: Learn the basics of accounting and how to set up QuickBook's new version, Simple Start.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Cost: $39
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 10: The Launch Window
What: The Launch Window is an interactive half-day workshop that prepares entrepreneurs and inventors to develop a business plan.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 8:00 - 11:30 am
Cost: $59
Contact: inVenure, 812-355-7356 (registration required)

November 11: Business Planning Workshop
What: Learn how to use ActivePlans, an online business planning tool, to help your business idea become reality. Each participant will receive an ActivePlans account.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: $69.95
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 17: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $20
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 18: QuickBooks Basics
What: Learn the basics of accounting and how to set up QuickBooks software to fit YOUR needs.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Cost: $39
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

November 18: Business After Hours
What: Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce monthly Business After Hours
Where: 2595 W. Vernal Pike
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Other: Open to all Chamber members. Sponsored by: Tichenor Publishing & Printing

• Free Market Study Ring

• Bloomington Voting ToolBox

• Organizational Development Games