Reaping Community Rewards By MeMe Smith and Juan Sandoval 1

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Schuyler Community and Demographics 3

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Hispanic/Latino Community 5

The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) of the Center for Rural Affairs is committed to strengthening rural communities through small, self-employed business development. 6

REAP Facts Started in 1990 Has provided over $11,000,000 in Loans to Nebraska Small businesses Assisted small businesses leveraging over $15,000,000 in additional loans 7

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REAP Some of the trainings developed by REAP include: Business Plan Basics QuickBooks Marketing E-Commerce Computer Basics Microsoft Office Basic Bookkeeping Customer Service 9

Promotion Local Brochures Webpage Facebook Chamber Newsletter City Council Meetings Newspaper article Cargill Learning Center ESL Classes 10

Classes 11

Computer Basics Computer Basics is a 12 hour curriculum that was designed to provide assistance to small business owners who have no previous experience working with computers. 12

Microsoft Office The Microsoft Office Training has been created to provide tools for small business owners. From creating a document in word to starting an excel spreadsheet to track mileage or inventory, the 12 hour course is an excellent tool to increase knowledge about Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. 13

Business Plan Basics 14

Evaluations “Great Class” “My business knowledge increase dramatically after class” “Would like to take other courses about customer service, marketing plan and short term and long term planning” “Learned how to prevent Identity Theft and creating an account” “The course is excellent. I learned how to use a computer” 15

Community Impact 16

Challenges 17

Other Results 18

New Directions 19

Reaping More Community Rewards 20

Contact Information MeMe Smith Schuyler Public Library 1123 A Street Schuyler, NE Fax libraries.ne.gov/schuyler Juan Sandoval Latino Business Center Director- Northeast Region at REAP 902 N Victory Rd, Norfolk, NE mobile fax 21