Paul Ellis, with the City, and Anthony Gromko, Assistant Professor of Community Economic Development at WSU extension, spoke to our club about enhancing community-based entrepreneurship. 
  Anthony and Paul
 
Paul met Anthony through the America’s Best Community competition. 
 
Arlington is the second largest industrial base in Snohomish County, second to Boeing.  2.2 jobs per household.  Many jobs start up but fail.  There is an opportunity to help those businesses start up and be successful.  There is a Rotary club in Maine that has adopted a mentor program for businesses.
 
Anthony came to WSU Extension from Mercy Corp – a non-profit, managing a micro-fund supporting underserved entrepreneurs. 
Anthony Gromko 
 
Anthony hoping to development excitement about leveraging our knowledge to engage with local entrepreneurs.   The club in Maine connects Rotarians with local entrepreneurs in the context of a focus group.  Rotarians provide recommendations/strategies to the entrepreneurs.
  
Microbusinesses are businesses with 20 employees or less.  87% of Washington businesses are microbusinesses.  Microbusiness owners are less confident regarding future needs (i.e. managing growth, keeping up with changes in their industry, concerned about saving for retirement).
 
This mentor program dovetails well with the ABC competition.  The program would strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystem, transfer of knowledge in the community, develop new ideas and strategies, building social capital, contribute to the ABC strategy.
    
The structure would include a committee/advisory formation, application process, pre-focus group vetting with sub-committees, and the 90 minute focus group with a facilitator.
 
The mentors would follow up within one year and ask the entrepreneur to return to give a presentation with the outcome.
 
Paul will follow up with the board to see if there is any interest in our club starting the program.