Workshop to address steps of starting a business
The Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center and First Southwest Bank are sponsoring a half-day workshop titled “Starting Your Business” on Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Durango Public Library Program Room.
This course is designed to help you navigate the steps you need to take to start a successful business. Presenters include a small-business specialist, marketing expert, small-business banker, an attorney and an accountant.
Topics include business planning, legal structure, taxes, marketing and market research and finance options.
The cost is $25 or $20 for Chamber members. The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Information: (970) 247-7009.
Work remains to enroll Medicaid patients
The expansion of Medicaid led more than 1,000 people in Montezuma County to enroll, but many remain uninsured.
The Colorado Health Institute estimates that about 2,100 people including about 400 children in Montezuma County are eligible for Medicaid, but haven’t enrolled.
Dave Hart, the Piñon Project’s health program director, said his local nonprofit is going to be working with other community organizations starting in 2015 to reach the uninsured. These groups include the school districts, the health department and the Southwest Memorial Hospital.
The Piñon Project is required to make the change to maintain its funding from the Colorado Health Foundation. Hart says it will be a positive change that will help the organization reach more people.
This year, the Piñon Project helped 200 people enroll in Medicaid, and many of those came to the nonprofit seeking to enroll in the state health-care exchange.
Many aren’t aware they became eligible for health care under Medicaid for those with incomes at 133 percent of the federal poverty level. It’s important to continue outreach efforts because the uninsured tend to wait until they are very ill before seeking help.
Chamber managing leadership program
The Cortez-area Chamber of Commerce has again accepted the role of managing the Leadership Montezuma Program after a 10-year hiatus, when it was under the guidance of the Southwest Leadership Collaborative and Onward! A Legacy Foundation.
A diverse group has been selected to take part in this year’s leadership program through a nomination, application and interview process. Participants took part in a retreat and are looking forward to nine, full-day sessions followed by a year of planning and organizing sessions for the next year’s participants. The goal is that participants become effective leaders in the community, enriching the quality of life.
Information: (970) 565-3414 or email info@cortezchamber.com
Green Business Roundtable to discuss herbicides, manure
The Green Business Roundtable will meet Wednesday, Sept. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. in Durango at the Strater Hotel Theater. The group meets once a month and will meet this month and discuss “The Scoop on the Poop: Herbicides in our Manure and Compost” presented by Darrin Parmenter, director and horticulturist with CSU Extension in La Plata County. Farmers and home gardeners have reported damage to vegetable and flower crops after applying horse or livestock manure, compost, hay or grass clippings to the soil. Learn more about what is being done locally to limit loss.
The cost for lunch is $15. RSVP by Monday, Sept. 8, to Erika@sanjuancitizens.org.
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The Cortez Journal