Bringing small businesses together in rural Idaho
Tim Garcia is owner of The Coalition BF, a co-working space with the mission to create a community around entrepreneurship and skill-sharing for startups, freelancers, remote-employees, or anyone scouting new opportunities.
BONNERS FERRY — Networking is difficult in small rural counties, especially in Boundary County, with so many business professionals working remotely and small businesses being online rather than in a physical building.
Doing more business in a digital landscape means less in-person interactions between neighbors and other local business professionals, and less opportunities to reap the benefits of networking.
The Coalition BF, a co-working space, is hoping to bring the community of entrepreneurs together under one roof. In addition to providing office spaces for rent, open desks and lightning fast Wi-Fi. Coalition owner Tim Garcia wants the space to be more than a place to work, but a collaborative environment conducive for networking.
In order to help establish community and organize networking opportunities, TD Holladay has been brought on as community director. She has the goal of connecting other professionals and continuing the positive and entrepreneurial spirit at the Coalition.
In order to facilitate this networking environment, Holladay has found a way to bring the community in, Monthly Morning Mixers.
The second Tuesday of every month entrepreneurs and local business professions meet to mingle and hear a talk from a local business professional.
The first meeting in October saw 31 people come out to the event. Many of the attendees work remotely from their home office or own small businesses, which they operate out of their own homes.
After mingling, connections were made with unknown neighbors, and networking connections for health care, professional development, business finance, marketing and much more.
Holladay is no stranger to networking events, as she was the Inland Empire Chamber and Morning Mixer organizer for the Rancho Cucamonga/Ontario, Calif. area. She was in charge of business mixers and formed a similar group.
She started out with 25 people and within two years 300 people were regularly attending the weekly meeting. She hopes the Monday Morning Mixers in Bonners Ferry will reap similar results.
Since the first meeting, Holladay and Garcia have received a lot of positive response toward the meetings. At the first meeting Teshra Robles, financial consultant and life coach, was a guest speaker and focused on financial planning.
Many people have come forward and offered to be guest speakers at following events.
Garcia’s goal is to embrace the community and find a way for local professionals to network in the rural Boundary County setting. He hopes The Coalition BF and the Monday Morning Mixers will be a step in the right direction.
“In all the places I’ve worked I’d had good rapport, but it is hard to find a place that supports you and lifts you up like this community,” Holladay said. “We hope to carry this feeling forward in hopes that it becomes a snowball effect and brings minds together and connects business owners in our community.”
The Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce is also joining in on this collaborative networking opportunity.
More information: thecoalitionbf.com
