In this live training, hear consumer shopping trends for the 2021 holiday season and identify what your local business can do to capture your share. In 2020, holiday shopping revenue was at an all-time high, yet consumers purchased gifts and holiday items differently than prior years. Will 2021 continue the trends of “buy-online-pick-up-in-store?” Is your business online? Join us for an interactive training to discuss these trends and specific strategies you can implement for your best holiday season yet.

-Review of historic holiday shopping trends
– Forecast of 2021 holiday shopping trends and consumer behavior
– Review of implementable strategies locally-owned businesses can implement for a successful holiday season in 2021.

**Can’t attend the live training? Sign up anyway! All registrants will receive a recording of the training + resources. **

Restaurant Recovery Strategies for Success

Recording HERE

During this 60-minute live training, Elliott Cook will identify tangible and implementable strategies for restauranteurs to meet consumer needs and tighten up their operations.

Additional topics include: POS system review, pros/cons of partnering with delivery services, outdoor dining and curbside pick-up, and marketing and branding for success.

Following the training, attendees will receive the following resource(s):

-Restaurant Resource Toolkit with industry trends, strategies for retooling your restaurant menu, claiming your digital presence, and defining your brand.

E-Tail Strategies: Get Your Business Online!

Webinar recording can be found HERE

Training Slide Deck can be found HERE

Download Additional Resources

Small Business Digital Marketing Guide

How To Optimize Your Facebook Page

Social Media Content Calendar Template

Have you considered expanding your business to include an online presence but don’t know how to get started?You’ve probably heard of omnichannel retail strategies, but do you really understand it? An omnichannel retail strategy is critical in today’s changing world of retail success, consumer habits & behaviors.In this training, Jenn Gregory will discuss omnichannel strategy, national retail trends, and the future of retail. Additionally, she will cover best practices and real-life examples of successful implementation of omnichannel retail strategies by peer small businesses.Following the training, attendees will also receive the following resources:

-Digital Marketing Guide – a step-by-step guide to getting your business set-up on Shopify
-Optimizing Your Facebook Page eBook
-Social Media Content Calendar Template – editable for your own use

Loan Programs

The Lake County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC) works with a regional network of lenders to access flexible business capital. The LCEDC utilizes the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) to provide financing to local businesses and the USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) to provide technical assistance to Lake County businesses.

IRP Loan Program

LCEDC participates in the USDA Rural Development Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).
This loan program provides gap-financing to startup and existing businesses in Lake County who need capital and are creating jobs.
•   Loan amounts range from $10,000 to $150,000.
•   Loans will be collateralized (real estate and/or UCC filings on equipment).
•   Loan terms are from 1 to 10 years.

Eligible uses for loan funds:
•   Purchase of equipment, inventory, and real estate.
•   Leasehold improvements.
•   Working capital.

Recycling Market Loan Program and Business Assistance

The RMDZ program offers eligible businesses below market terms financing for new development and expansion projects, technical assistance and free product marketing. The Lake/Sonoma/Mendocino Zone offers substantial benefits to potentially eligible businesses. Benefits include:

Attractive Loans
•   Loans of up to $2 million or 75% of project costs, whichever is less
•   4.0% interest rate (current as of 05/2010)
•   Funds may be used for equipment, permanent working capital, leasehold improvements, and up to $1 million dollars for real property acquisition.

Technical Assistance
•   Locating manufacturing materials (feedstock)
•   Finding markets for products
•   Providing current market conditions/trends
•   Evaluating technology and equipment
•   Creating relationships with industry contacts, local recyclers, and waste haulers
•   Providing geographical data on demographics, waste streams, and economics

Product Marketing
• Free product marketing on RecycleStore , an online site that links buyers in direct contact with recycling-based manufacturers.