| Self Employment Asssistance Program helps Enterprise Entrepreneur |
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| Darlene Johnson has business blooming |
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Darlene Johnson, owner, Enterprise Florists
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For Darlene Johnson, it was not only an opportunity to own her own business, but to keep a piece of Enterprise history alive.
“Enterprise Florist has been in business since 1920,” Darlene said.
That institution was threatened when the previous owners looked to close the shop, and in turn put Darlene, who managed the store at the time, out of a job.
Darlene had the desire and the experience to purchase the business, but without a job, she did not have the resources.
Enter the Self Employment Assistance Program.
Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) offers dislocated workers the opportunity for early re-employment. The program is designed to encourage and enable unemployed workers to create their own jobs by starting their own small businesses. Under SEA, participants receive a weekly self-employed allowance, instead of regular unemployment insurance benefits, while they are getting their businesses off the ground.
“The most valuable asset to me was all the help I received from the various WorkSource Oregon agencies,” Darlene said. “Kathy Lepper of the Employment Department told me about the program, and I also received help from the Training and Employment Consortium, as well as the Wallowa County Business Facilitation Program.
The program worked well, it was very simple to fill out the form and mail it in. And by receiving the benefits, I was able to continue to pay my bills while I was setting up my business. Without SEA, I would not have been able to make it work,” Darlene said.
By accessing the Self Employment Assistance Program through WorkSource Oregon, Darlene Johnson kept a local landmark alive, grew her own business, and provided jobs for others.
If you would like to know more about the Self Employment Assistance Program, or other services designed to your job and career possibilities, contact your local WorkSource Oregon Employment Department office.
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