Greater Spokane Incorporated has launched a new program for micro businesses that might not have the means to afford a traditional membership with the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization, says Debra Whitehead, business development manager at GSI.

Coinciding with small business month in May, the organization has launched GSI Free Connect, a low-cost membership level designed to provide increased visibility, resources, educational opportunities, and business connections.

"The timing of this is everything," she says. "We want to provide resources for small businesses, and we want to help them with resilience through some of these difficult times."

GSI Free Connect is targeting sole proprietors, businesses with three or fewer employees, or local, single-location restaurants, regardless of the number of staff, she says. However, some exclusions apply for certain occupations, such as loan officers, insurance agents, or financial planners that are usually affiliated with larger parent companies.

Enrollment is $35, which is the cost of an annual application fee with GSI. The program is sponsored by Spokane Valley-based Canopy Credit Union and RiverBank, of Spokane. 

One of the new program's benefits is a monthly 50-minute virtual meeting with industry experts that will cover topics regarding running, growing, and scaling a business, including marketing, consulting, Small Business Administration loans, funding, point-of-sale systems, and cybersecurity. Monthly meetings are expected to start in mid-June and run through December.

Additional perks include increased visibility with a limited profile on GSI's website, to be searchable by business name or expertise. Participants also will receive free membership to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a certificate of completion for those who regularly attend meetings.

At the end of the year, Free Connect participants who want to upgrade to the next available membership level, Business Connect, would pay $425 instead of the typical $600 fee, she explains, adding that such an upgrade won't be required and those small businesses can remain Free Connect members beyond a year.

GSI plans to survey participants periodically to better understand small business needs, and the organization is open to evolving based on feedback, she says.

"We have been thinking about this Free Connect program for quite some time," Whitehead says. "It's our responsibility to support all businesses."

Whitehead notes that GSI Free Connect aligns with the mission of GSI as the Spokane region's business development organization, which works to support local economic development, business retention, and expansion efforts. The GSI Free Connect program is expected to boost membership, however, that isn't the main goal, she says.

"The biggest goal is fulfilling our obligation to economic development, advocacy," says Whitehead. "Our goal is to help small businesses and bring more awareness of what they provide to the community and we want the community to invest in small businesses."