Newsletter

By Jeremy Wilch, business counselor

"Market conditions are tough right now, but I'm confident things will turn around. Are there strategies I
may implement during this slow time to help better position my business for the future?" Steve,

Laramie. As a former banker, I find a majority of my friends are bankers, portfolio managers or
business service providers. Perhaps that is because of the propensity to see these same individuals
at the golf courses and other "social networking" venues I still frequent. My current responsibilities as
a business counselor and legal specialist with Wyoming Entrepreneur.Biz make for a synergistic
partnership with these colleagues. On the occasions I have to visit with these "finger-on-the-pulse-of-
the-economy" friends of mine, I always ask, "What should I be telling my business clients to do in this
economy"? The resounding response is -- grow. But that can mean different things to different people.
Perhaps my commercial lending compadres are suggesting the time is ripe for a huge expansion loan,
but I doubt it. Maybe my investment friends are suggesting I tell you to go diversify your portfolio, but
they always say that, so I doubt these tough economic times warrant any special treatment. No, I think
what "those in the know" are suggesting is this is a good time to invest in your business. Investing in
your business can mean many things. To me that means working on your infrastructure. We all know
infrastructure is just a big word for "the nuts and bolts" of your company; new record keeping
software, a piece of equipment that needs refurbished/replaced, certification you have put off, even
resurfacing the parking lot or a new coat of paint on the office walls. These are all infrastructure.
When business is good you are too busy to worry about those small details. How many times during
peak sales did you say to yourself, "I need to take care of {insert problem area here}." But you never
did because you were too busy making money to find time to spend it. Now is the time to reinvest it
in the company. With the economic slowdown, slow sales and fear of just covering the bills comes a
temptation to withdraw and save every penny. Problem with that is, we know things will rebound.
Already $1.5 trillion has been earmarked for something called "economic stimulus" nationwide.
Whatever that really means, it suggests there will be a lot of money to be spent. When the good
times come back, will your business be poised to capitalize? Or will you be woefully unprepared?
One final thought: If you think your business is as prepared for the rebound as it can possibly be and
you have employees, consider investing in your greatest asset -- your staff. Employee training is a
fairly low-cost, high-return and easy investment in the people who make your business run.
If you are unsure what training your people need, or how to find the training they need, contact a local
WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz office for a no-cost consultation. Whether in equipment, real estate, your
business plan or people, an investment in your business today will lead to rewards when the inevitable
bounce-back arrives.

The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming . To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, e-mail wsbdc@uwyo.edu or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922 , Laramie , WY 82071-3922 .

We would like to help you stimulate your business, stimulate shoppers in the community and stimulate the bottom line. Here is how the “Chamber’s Stimulus Plan” works. Everyone time a customer comes into your business and buys something you give them a “Chamber Stimulus Coupon” to another participating Chamber Members business in appreciation for shopping with you. The customer gets an extra bonus for shopping local. They can then take their coupon to another Chamber Member’s business, buy something and get referred to another Chamber Member business. This way businesses are “stimulating” more spending in our community and in the long run stimulating our local economy.

All you need to do is call the Chamber to sign up, offer some sort of discount or value added option to your business. For instance you could offer a percentage off a purchase, or a buy one get one at a discounted price, or buy a meal and receive a free beverage. The options are up to you, the business owner, but it should be something of value to show the customers you care. The Chamber will match you up with a non-competitive business, print the coupons and deliver them to you. The Chamber will also print a list of businesses participating in the “Chamber Stimulus Plan” to be placed at each participating business and we will have the same list in the newsletter and on the web site.

To sign up or for more information please call the Chamber office at 307-875-5711

The Green River Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the City of Green River to conduct the 1^st Annual City Wide Clean Up Day on May 9^th. The City and the Chamber are looking for volunteers to help out that day. The city will be divided up into several main areas of focus for clean up that day, but would like everyone to pitch in through out the week in their own neighborhoods as well.

From May 4^th through the 9^th residents are encouraged to tidy up their neighborhoods. All kinds of garbage except for hazardous waste can be left on the curb where you regular garbage is picked up. City truck will pass through the city and pick this trash up.

The main focus of the Clean Up on May 9^th with be business districts along Flaming Gorge Way, Railroad Avenue, 2^nd South, Uinta Drive, Upland Way, Shoshone, Astle Ave/E. Teton, Scotts Bottom Road, FMC Park, Wild Horse Canyon Road, the Green Belt Path Way and. Telephone Canyon.

There is a sign up sheet at the Chamber office and individuals can meet the morning of May 9^th at the Public Works Building on E. Teton at 9 am. The Clean Up Committee is looking for donations and hopes to have t-shirts for all the come and help clean up that day. The committee is also working on an appreciation lunch later that day.

A unique twist to the Clean Up day will be "Treasure in the Trash" folks picking up in the clean up areas may just find some treasure as well. The committee will be planting prizes in the clean up area such as Chamber Gift Certificates, coupons to various eating establishment and other "Treasures".

If you would like to be a part of the committee the next meeting is scheduled for April 15^th, 8 am at Buckaroo’s.

For more information contact the Chamber at 875-5711 or e-mail to jhartford@sweetwaterhsa.com

The Chambers Tourism Committee is again working on a providing a free Community Bike Program. The Community Bikes would be free to the public to use and will be placed at several locations through out town. We are partnering with the Green River Parks & Recreation Department and the Green River Community Chest to bring this project back again.

We know everyone has spring fever and is working on cleaning out your garages, sheds, and storage areas. And I bet you have a bike in there collecting dust! Well don’t throw it away…bring it to us! We will take bikes of any size…yes even tricycles!

Tom McIntosh, Jim Dunks and Brent Skorcz and members of the Sweetwater Mountain Biking Association will strip those bikes down and get them painted BRIGHT yellow! The group hopes to have these bikes out soon so the community can use them when the weather gets better; yes it is going to get better!

The City has some great bike trails and we want more people to be able to use them. If you happen to be walking the trails and want to ride; just pick up a bike at one the racks located near the Clock Tower Downtown, at Expedition Island and at Stratton Myers. Ride around and the drop it back off at one of the other racks. This is a great way for travelers passing through town to enjoy them too. The Chamber gets requests about our bike trails…now they can experience them too!

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