Digital Forest mentioned in Ukiah Daily Journal!

That’s me in the corner!

We're thrilled at being on the front page of The Ukiah Daily Journal!

“Startup Mendocino: Competition for entrepreneurs has $10,000 prize” By Karen Rifkin |PUBLISHED: May 13, 2019 at 2:37 pm | UPDATED: May 13, 2019 at 2:40 pm

Startup Mendocino, the inaugural launch of a countywide, business-pitch competition culminating with a showcase gala event on August 25th at Mendocino College Center Theater where the first-place winner will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000, is the brainchild of Mary Anne Petrillo, CEO of West Business Development Center (formerly WEST Company).

WEST Company has been serving the county since 1987 and its initial mission was to lift women with low incomes out of poverty through self-employment offering them support in business plan training, access to capital, marketing strategies and fourth pillar services such as transportation, childcare, parenting skills and substance abuse.

Still committed to the same mission today, West Business Development Center, with locations in Fort Bragg and Ukiah, is focused on helping any small business with one to one hundred employees, offering no-cost, one-on-one, expert, confidential business advice and low-cost workshops that include how to start a business, apply for loans, understand finances, hire and retain employees, expand a business, understand digital marketing and build a brand.

“We are continuing the legacy of West Company; we take business people and train them up for our new economy. In 2019 we have small businesses in rural areas that are struggling; they need to utilize technology more to grow and thrive, to come on board and learn to use it to their advantage. At West Business Development Center we have been focusing on this for the last few years; it’s a continual evolution.

“We see new and creative ideas coming through here every day; sometimes there’s a funding mechanism in place and sometimes there’s just a really good idea; sometimes there’s a business plan but a lack of confidence to execute it. We meet people where they are and support them through to fruition,” says Mary Anne.

For the rest of the article, see the here. Thanks to West Center in Fort Bragg for all their help getting Digital Forest off the ground, and to the Ukiah Daily Journal for the photo and mention!