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HERO,org 989-728-1999 |
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HERO has developed a web site, had exposure on channel 11‘s “Talk of the Town” program and advertised on radio and local newspapers to create awareness of our existence and information about our organization, events and fundraisers. We have contacted churches and businesses in our area that will also help us inform the public of our services. Our local community has an association which we are members of and hope to have an influence on the development in our community. We have contacted the city and county boards, business associations and Chambers of Commerce to work with us in fundraising events and community information. HERO works with Hale Michigan Web Sites, a nonprofit organization in Hale whose goal is to provide computer knowledge and technology to Northeast Michigan by offering web sites, information and a community calendar. Most of HERO’s leaders possess vast experience and have served on community boards. One set up innovative educational program, established a Jaycees organization and as a small business owner, she also revolutionized the wholesale terrarium business by creating new designs and manufacturing styles. Another served on a County Park Board and helped develop a Master Park and Recreation Plan for a small city. She also developed and co-owned a small business, which hired under privileged and at risk youths and adults. She is coordinator of HERO’s youth program. One of our leaders was a member of an Employee Assistance Program, business facilitator, fundraiser and worked with young people in an internship-training program and is currently involved in setting up a foundation for a drop in center for disabled individuals. We have other board members who own and manage small businesses and several with backgrounds in statistical surveys. HERO has ongoing training for board members to improve their leadership skills through suggested readings and continued education.
HERO has developed a community association,” Partners of HERO, org”, which will meet on regular basis to discuss ways to bring greater opportunities for success to all community members. Partners of HERO was also developed to conduct fundraisers for HERO, HERO’s Kids Kare, and Pinecrest Learning Center. HERO plans to do a community survey to reach the people who are unable to attend meetings. This will provide HERO with better insight to access small businesses. The initiative for which funding is requested is to provide assistance through loans, grants, consultation and supportive training for low income, often disabled, individuals who seek financial support in pursuing a goal for self-sufficiency and self-respect through entrepreneurship. HERO receives some of it’s funding from membership dues. Individual memberships are $25.00, $50.00 for small companies (1 to 50 employees), and $100.00 for larger companies (51 plus employees). Benefits include 20% off on all classes and direct services as well as a free quarterly newsletter. Services are free to individuals who are very low income or special needs individuals.
HERO's present goal is to assist 30 to 60 clients (small businesses & entrepreneurs) a year. One of the companies we are working with has patents for technology for an alternative fuel engine. This corporation’s technology provides an alternative fuel at the touch of a button which is incorporated into all our products. Each engine produced by the corporation offers hydrogen fuel capabilities providing zero emissions, improving the performance and fuel economy. In addition, our engines will be capable of multi-fuel adaptations (gas, propane, natural gas, alcohol, methanol, etc.) Even the diesel engines have multi-fuel capability (diesel, alcohol and hydrogen) switching at a touch of a button. Eagle Heads engines provide all this, plus improved horsepower, performance, and engine efficiency. The company will employ approximately fifteen to twenty people that first year of production. Also they will contract other small businesses in the area for manufacturing parts of their product. As production increases eagle had should be responsible for many new jobs in the area. Another client proposal is for retirement village using an old mall building in the area and converting it into a housing area that will include living space, restaurants some retail shops and health care center. This project will create many new jobs for the area and creating an environment where the elderly can live independently for a longer time. HERO is also assisting other small businesses and start up businesses. Many of these will create jobs for one to five new employees as a result of our help and training.
This, in turn, will enable our beneficiaries to hire and help others to improve their financial situation. HERO will also encourage our beneficiaries & members to offer discounts or work on a bartering system to improve the standard of living for low-income community members. We already have a “Community Bartering Board” where community members can post their needs and state the service or products they can offer in return. We also have an Up North Information Center where businesses and entrepreneurs can display information and advertise for free.
Hero does not discriminate by gender, ethnicity, age, race, color, marital status, familial status, religion or weight, and seeks out the promotion of dignity and respect for those who are often denied this; the poor, disabled and minorities.
One of HERO’s goals is to expand by building a small mall structure to house 6 to 8 small businesses. HERO will lease this business space to start up businesses at low cost. An internship relationship will be established with entrepreneurs, in order to mentor and train them during the development phase of their businesses. We will offer training in purchasing, business set-up, organizing, display of merchandise or services, computer technology, advertising, budgeting & bookkeeping, sales, customer relations, etc. After these businesses are stable, HERO will help them relocate so a new business can take their place. Through this internship, the businesses will greatly increase their chance of success and investors, banks and creditors will be more likely to extend credit or lease space to them. We anticipate that HERO will achieve changes in our communities by collaborating with other institutions to create an environment where low income and disabled individuals can learn and work with dignity by supporting their financial pursuits in entrepreneurships. By doing this we will build a community that empowers people to attain their full human potential.
Since HERO’s purpose is to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in part by offering seminars on leadership, we encourage our board and staff to attend these seminars. Each seminar has an evaluation form which all participants fill out at the end of the seminar. We will improve our awareness of the community by inviting community members to meet with us and express their ideas of how we can better meet their needs. We plan to conduct training sessions to improve personal development skills of HERO’s leaders by administering leadership styles and personality Type Test (i.e.; Myers-Briggs) to help our leaders know themselves and be able to present themselves in a more professional manner. This also prepares them to communicate with all types of individuals.
HERO evaluates our programs success through written surveys, business income improvement, number of new jobs created and money saved by improved knowledge of small business management. |
