Thursday, September 8, 2011

Free OSHA Consultation Service from CSU

This information was forwarded by my colleague, Robin:

"One other Resource I wanted to share with you was CSU’s OSHA Consultation Service. A business can request an on site consultation to help with meeting State requirements of the OSHA regulations. Read below and see link for more information.

The On-Site Consultants Will:

- Help you recognize hazards in your workplace
- Suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health problem
- Identify kinds of help available if you need further assistance
- Provide you a written report summarizing findings
- Assist you to develop or maintain an effective safety and health program
- Provide training and education for you and your employees
- Recommend you for a one-year exclusion from OSHA programmed inspections, once program criteria are met.

The On-Site Consultants Will Not:

- Issue citations or propose penalties for violations of OSHA standards.
- Report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff.
- Guarantee that your workplace will "pass" an OSHA inspection.

State OSHA consultation programs generally are listed in the state government section of the telephone directory under "Department of Labor and Industry."

Contact Information:
Occupational Health & Safety Consultation
Colorado State University
155 Environmental Health
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970)491-6151
Fax (970)491-7778
ohss@lamar.colostate.edu

http://www.bernardino.colostate.edu/public/Default.htm"

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Business Plan Scholarships for Start Up Energy Companies

Source: SBDC

"The SBDC and Workforce Centers have created an opportunity for energy start-up businesses to attend the Leading Edge (LE) business plan course and start-up classes at no charge. The Workforce Centers will pay $500.00 per attendee to go through the LE course and $25.00 per attendee to go to a start up class.

If you or someone you know is interested in starting an energy business (preservation, solar, audits etc.) and they are unemployed, send them to the local Workforce Center to get more information and to sign up for the scholarship.

Scholarships will be given depending on the level of completeness the business is in. If you have a great idea but have not begun any of the startup procedures you might qualify for the start up class. If you business is ready to start and you need a structured course to clarify and improve your business plan then the Leading Edge course might be right for you. Regardless of where your business is, the SBDC and Workforce Centers are here to help and our aim is to help 30 people through the Leading Edge business plan course in the next 2 years. "

CORE - Driving Business Sustainability

Sustainability is more than a sound byte - it’s a sound business strategy that can determine whether your business is just surviving or truly thriving. But where to begin? That’s where CORE comes in. CORE is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping companies understand and implement sustainability practices in their operations. Whether you’re a small start-up or an established enterprise, from supply chain to clean energy to social responsibility, CORE is the primary resource.

Monthly Breakfast Series - CORE presents local experts from the private and public sectors, reporting on a variety of sustainability initiatives in Colorado and elsewhere. This is a great networking opportunity and an event where you not only hear the speakers but meet the speakers.

Success Stories - Success Stories features short profiles of successful sustainability initiatives by CORE member companies. These stories are full of great ideas for every company, whether you are looking to innovate, cut costs or more effectively engage your stakeholders.

Sustainable Opportunities Summit – CORE partners with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at CU Boulder to host the oldest and large sustainability conference in the Rockies - the Sustainable Opportunities Summit. The Summit features a stellar list of speakers, business, political, and academia sustainability leaders from around the world in a wide variety of talks and panel discussions. Visit www.sosummit.org for a sneak-peak at the 2012 Summit.

CORE Catalyst is a program that matches small teams of talented graduate students from Colorado universities with CORE member companies to develop practical, actionable sustainability plans. Project teams perform a preliminary business sustainability assessment and recommend money-saving action steps. Over a period of eight weeks, Catalyst teams consider a diverse collection of sustainability metrics, depending on the business, that may include energy use, water use, material efficiency and recycling, employee engagement and equity, community involvement and impacts, and much more.

CORE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that works closely with CORE - Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy. CORE Foundation strives for a prosperous and sustainable economy in Colorado by engaging small, minority, and women-owned businesses, students, local governments, and other stakeholders in business sustainability education and support. In some cases, CORE Foundation provides financial support so that businesses can participate in CORE membership and programs.

Membership - Sustainability isn't a spectator sport - progress for your business and our economy only happens when you become involved. The best way to get started is to join CORE, attend our events, and even volunteer. Membership for businesses with under 50 employees starts at just $250 per year, and includes discounts for all CORE events, your company or individual name listing in the members directory on the CORE website, your company profile on CORE’s website, advanced e-mail notice of all CORE events, access to CORE event presentation materials, and more.

CORE and CORE Foundation 1801 California Street, Suite 4900, Denver CO 80202 www.corecolorado.org

Free Technical Consultation to Entrepreneurs Focused on Sustainability

iCAST was awarded grant funding to provide technical assistance and capacity building to entrepreneurs in the Rocky Mountain region states of Colorado, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. iCAST can use the funds to provide consulting to entrepreneurs focused on building sustainable businesses that provide triple bottom line benefits to their community. Areas of consultation can include Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Agriculture and Waste Utilization.

iCAST consultation services include:
· Feasibility Studies
· Research and Development
· Market Identification
· Financial Analysis
· Marketing and Sales support
· Workforce and other Training
· Business Planning
· Design and Engineering
· Fund Raising
· Project Implementation
· Decision Analysis

Currently iCAST is seeking appropriate and eligible enterprises to provide the kind of services listed above. If you are interested or you know of someone who may benefit from this program please contact:

Chris Jedd - Project Manager - Phone: (720)-833-5592 - ChrisJ@icastusa.org

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

3 Tax Issues for Small Business Owners 4/27/11

"3 Tax Issues for Small Business Owners
Wednesday, April 27th
1041 Acoma Street, 80204
5:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Register at: www.denvercommunity.coop/education
Networking & light dinner provided
Cost: $5/person
Hosted by Mi Casa Resource Center, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute, the Denver / Boulder BBB, and Denver Community Credit Union"

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Colorado Cleantech Trade Mission to China June 5th – 11th, 2011

The Colorado Cleantech Trade Mission to China will take a select group of Colorado cleantech manufacturers and service providers to CIEPEC 2011, China’s largest and longest-running trade show for environmental goods and services. Space in the Delegation is limited.

The Value of Participation:

• Shared booth space in the Official Colorado Booth with your company's offerings on digital display
• Four (or more) highly-customized matchmaking meetings with potential Chinese partners (i.e. distributors, agents, government officials, and/or otherwise, as appropriate)
• Use of our two professional English-Mandarin interpreters throughout CIEPEC 2011
• Roundtrip air travel for one representative of your company between Denver and Beijing
• Five nights at a hotel two blocks from the China International Exhibition Center
• Translation and printing of your company’s China-focused marketing profile
• A Private Pre-Mission Briefing to introduce Delegates to one another, discuss trip logistics, cross-cultural norms, the Chinese business environment, etc.
• A Private Post-Mission Debriefing to capitalize on sales opportunities identified during the trip
• Participation fee: US $1,600 (A comparable trip outside of CO-EXist would cost ~US $9,000.)

Which Technologies and Services are Most Applicable?

• Water and wastewater treatment
• Air pollution prevention and treatment
• Solid waste treatment and disposal
• Environmental remediation and monitoring
• Energy efficiency

Participant Eligibility

1. Product or service to be exported must be a "cleantech" sector product/service (e.g. water / wastewater treatment, air pollution control, remediation eq., waste management, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
2. Company must have a Colorado presence and be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State.
3. Company must be export ready. Export readiness is evaluated based on the company’s ability to meet new customer demand, provide any necessary customer service to foreign buyers, and meet any applicable export regulations and/or certifications that may be required to sell the product or service in the target market.
4. Product or service to be exported must have >50% U.S. content.
5. Company should already produce the product or service that is to be exported.
6. Preference will be given to new, qualified applicant companies for subsequent CO-EXist events.
7. Third party reps. may not apply.

Interested in Learning More?

Please contact Tom Binet, Director of Trade & Investment for the Asia-Pacific in the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade at 303-892-3850 to discuss how participation in the Mission can further your specific objectives for the Chinese market.

Additional information about the CO-EXist Program is available online: www.colorado.gov/trade/COEXist.

About CO-EXist

The Colorado Export of Innovative and Sustainable Technologies Program (CO-EXist) promotes Colorado cleantech exports to China and Mexico. Created by the Colorado International Trade Office, CO-EXist is a three-year program that will run through December 2012. Companies may apply throughout the three-year program to benefit from financial and informational assistance. Companies will be selected for funding based on their demonstrated readiness to export and by the eligibility requirements defined in the CO-EXist Application Form.

Through CO-EXist, the ITO is able to offer assistance to qualifying Colorado companies including:

• One-on-one export counseling through the ITO and USEAC–Denver
• Market research through the ITO, Colorado’s Trade Representative in Mexico, and the Foreign Comm. Service
• ITO-organized trade missions to China (CIEPEC) and Mexico (Green Expo) for a nominal fee
• Trade mission fees will cover shared booth space, airfare, hotel, select ground transportation, pre-screened, one-on-one business appointments with potential buyers and/or distributors
• Conditional reimbursement for approved legal counseling, business travel, due diligence, translation, etc.
• Participation in Colorado-based programs hosting foreign buyers from China and Mexico

The CO-EXist Technical Assistance Fund

The Technical Assistance Fund under the CO-EXist program will assist Colorado exporters once they have identified a potential buyer in the Chinese or Mexican market. Any company that qualifies for CO-EXist may access these funds. Individual companies may request up to $5,000 reimbursement for costs incurred to complete an export sale. A one-to-one dollar cash match is required of the company. The following is a list of services that are eligible for technical assistance funds. Services include but are not limited to:

•Legal fees to assist with contracts, intellectual property protection or other legal questions that may arise
•Due diligence and/or credit reviews on potential buyers and distributors
•Capacity planning and design and engineering support for export sales
•Country requirements for labeling/packaging/shipping
•Contract translation and translation of other official documents
•Quality or environmental certifications
•Product documentation, product registration, assembly and/or maintenance instructions

The CO-EXist Client Development Program

Through CO-EXist, the ITO is able to provide financial and informational assistance that will enable qualified Colorado cleantech manufacturers and service providers to meet face-to-face with your potential buyers from China and/or Mexico. Companies may apply to utilize the program in two ways: 1) to travel to meet with the potential customer(s) in China or Mexico; or 2) to host your potential customer(s) in Colorado. A maximum of $3,500 in matching funds ($1 to $1) will be made available to qualified Colorado cleantech companies on a reimbursement basis.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Colorado Cleantech Initiative series has been renamed the CREED ACCEL Series

"NREL and CCIA are pleased to announce that the Colorado Cleantech Initiative series has been renamed the CREED ACCEL Series - Center for Renewable Energy and Economic Development Accelerating Cleantech and Clean Energy Leaders.

Monthly meetings will continue to provide opportunities for networking between entrepreneurs, investors and other local service providers, as well as for emerging cleantech startups to practice the company's business case pitch to investors and partners. Key industry topics will also be covered in special presentations. Meetings will be held at various locations, including the CREED offices in Golden, the Denver Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Denver and periodic visits to other areas of the state.

We are excited about the evolution of this long standing program and look forward to your continued participation and support. We will keep you informed of further CREED ACCEL Series events that will provide a framework for education cleantech entrepreneurs in Colorado.

What is the CREED ACCEL Series?

The CREED ACCEL Series focuses on developing new start-up businesses, based on technologies developed in Colorado. The ACCEL Series provides:

- An open, interactive, monthly forum for entrepreneurs, investors, and cleantech support organizations to meet, learn from, and link up with one another
- A robust business mentoring network using serial entrepreneurs (a key differentiator compared with traditional incubation processes or angel investing) experienced in achieving high returns on investments
- Strong ties to NREL, the Collaboratory (including CSU, CU, CSM), as well as to a wide range of investors
- A pathway for developing a coalition among economic development organizations along the Front Range

Where:
CREED - Center for Renewable Energy & Economic Development
Building 52
14062 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401"

Colorado Cleantech Industry Association
http://www.coloradocleantech.com/

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
http://www.nrel.gov/technologytransfer/entrepreneurs/entrepreneurs.html

Thursday, March 17, 2011

DIA RMU/Kiosk Opportunities

PROVENZANO RESOURCES, INC. (PRI) in conjunction with the Office of Economic Development Division of Small Business Opportunity at DIA are hosting another public ACDBE Outreach and Networking seminars for those interested in being part of the new Specialty Retail RMU/Kiosk program at Denver International Airport.

Why Attend?
With over 50 million customers a year Denver International Airport (DIA) is the 5th busiest airport in North America and the 10Th busiest in the WORLD! Departing and transferring passengers spend almost 2 hours waiting for their flights AFTER they have cleared security. Retail sales (excluding food service) average $1230 per square foot!

Who should attend?
Entrepreneurs interested in opening a retail business at Denver International Airport, including Small, local, minority and women owned retail businesses

And
Wholesalers, Manufacturers, Distributors, Artisans and companies that offer Turn-key RMU/Kiosk concepts looking for a retail outlet at Denver International Airport

Where?
Denver International Airport in the City Conference Room,
Jeppesen Terminal Building, level 6 West, North End

When?
Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 9:00 A.M. to Noon

What you will learn?
Details of RMU /Kiosk opportunities, what you need to know about Airport Security, the benefits of ACDBE Participation,

What to consider before operating RMU/Kiosks in DIA; all about the Leasing and Application Process.

RSVP by March 28, 2011 to PRIDenver@aol.com

For more information contact:
Irene Pierpont
PROVENZANO RESOURCES, INC. (PRI)
Director of Special Projects
DIA RMU/Kiosk Program
720.878.5278
Irene@Proresoucesinc.com

Monday, January 24, 2011

DIA Concession Opportunity Outreach Session 2/8/11

"DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Concession Opportunity Outreach Session
February 8, 2011, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Wellington E. Webb Bldg., Room 4.F.6
201 W. Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado

Those interested in learning how to do business at an airport are invited to attend an informational outreach session presented by Denver International Airport beginning at 9:00 a.m. on February 8, 2011 for seven upcoming opportunities; two retail and five food and beverage. The specifics of these opportunities are not yet available but will be released in March 2011.

This session will cover the following topics:

• Doing business at airports
• Explanation of the Request for Proposal process
• Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
• Financing and amortization of your business
• Next steps

To reserve a seat, you must RSVP by February 4 with your name and company to concessions@flydenver.com.

For those who are unable to attend, the PowerPoint presentation will be posted online by February 9, 2011 at http://business.flydenver.com/bizops/concessions.asp "