GROW Washington founder exploring new ventures

Founded in 2010, Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick's nonprofit GROW Washington has helped numerous fledgling entrepreneurs explore the world of operating their own businesses. Now, with five years under her belt, Eslick is moving into new areas, including youth entrepreneurship and Main Street revitalization.

GROW Washington is a 501(C)3 nonprofit "business incubator,GÇ¥ dedicated to enhancing the Snohomish County economy by helping entrepreneurs establish and operate their own businesses. A business owner who becomes a member of GROW Washington receives guided instruction on matters relevant to owning and operating a small business. The curriculum includes everything from creating a business plan to paying taxes.-á

In addition to marketing opportunities, free publicity, Internet representation, website evaluations, referral benefits, access to funding opportunities and an affordable storefront to display products, GROW offers many classes and workshops to assist business owners in all aspects of running their businesses.

Classes include subjects like new business orientation, product development, working with the Department of Revenue, marketing skills and money management.

Currently, there are three GROW Washington storefront locations; one in Snohomish, one in Sultan and one in Everett. Once an entrepreneur becomes a member of GROW, they are able to display their products in all three storefront locations ' each establishing merchandise in their own exclusive section of the store. GROW Washington stores have a mall-like feel, giving customers the opportunity to freely browse and explore all the merchandise offered by different GROW vendors.

GROW Washington entrepreneurs pay an annual membership fee of $125. Once an entrepreneur has established their business, they pay an additional $100 a month to rent store space. Upon signing up, members are required to volunteer at each retail store a minimum of one day per month.

"We don't take commission. All the money goes back to them, including sales tax, and they have to pay that at the end of the year,GÇ¥ Eslick said. "We have a consultant that comes in and actually helps them fill the paperwork out.GÇ¥

Eslick has had numerous success stories, including several business owners who have left GROW to open their own shops. One artist was recently invited to display her work at the Schack Art Center, an exclusive art gallery in Everett.

The Everett store, which opened in late 2013, was made possible through a partnership with the city of Everett. Everett provided Eslick with a retail space in the downtown core, in order to help bolster the economy in the city of Everett.

It was after she opened her Everett store that Eslick really became interested in targeting main street revitalization across the state. She hopes to establish working relationships with the Washington State Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), a federal program dedicated to small business development. -á -á

"I want us to be a state-designated agency,GÇ¥ Eslick said. "Not ran by the state but partnered with the state, so that we are recognized on the SBA site as the place to come if you're interested in starting a business.GÇ¥

Communities interested in exploring opening their own GROW Washington storefront can contact GROW Washington for information on how to proceed.

GROW Washington entrepreneurs are painters, jewelry makers, ceramic artists, authors, woodworkers, fabric crafters and metal artists. While many current GROW Washington entrepreneurs have product-based businesses, having a product is not a prerequisite to membership. With her new youth entrepreneurship program, Eslick is hoping to encourage young people who are interested in either selling a product or even starting a service-based business like a landscaping company. -á -á

"It could be anything,GÇ¥ Eslick said. "It's all about giving these kids career choices.GÇ¥

This year, Eslick will facilitate a pilot youth entrepreneurship program at Sultan High School to see if she can generate some interest. She will incorporate a specialized curriculum oriented toward nontraditional educational methods, and is considering holding classes at the Sultan GROW Washington location. She is hoping to also offer the program at the Sultan Boys & Girls Club and is planning on introducing it to the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors in the near future.

For more information on GROW Washington, visit www.growwashington.biz. To request a consultation regarding a Main Street revitalization project, contact carolyn@growwashington.biz.