PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Economic Development Council’s “Coffee With Colleen” session this week featured a compelling discussion with representatives from the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE), emphasizing the organization’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship across marginalized and rural communities on the Olympic Peninsula.
Rick Dickinson, Program Director at CIE, and Micah Jonet, Business Adviser, were the key speakers. They shared their insights on the significant progress CIE has made in supporting local entrepreneurs and discussed future goals for enhancing economic inclusion.
Established as part of the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network, CIE aims to empower individuals in marginalized rural communities by providing the tools and resources needed to start and grow small businesses.
Their mission revolves around helping people with limited resources build generational wealth and contribute to sustainable community development. The vision is to create rural environments where everyone can leverage their unique talents to contribute to a thriving, equitable community.
Rick Dickinson highlighted that CIE is approaching its five-year anniversary on the Peninsula. “CIE operates under two logos — CIE and SBDC,” he explained. “We are a subrecipient of the SBDC, a member of the Washington SBDC Network, and part of a broader network funded through various public and private partnerships.”
The SBDC network, including CIE, provides services across Clallam and Jefferson Counties, with offices in Port Angeles and Port Townsend. They are dedicated to reaching individuals who might otherwise face barriers to entrepreneurship, using a “no wrong door” approach to ensure that anyone with a business idea receives support.
Over the past five years, CIE has achieved remarkable milestones. They have served 500 clients through nearly 4,000 hours of advising, leading to the creation of 89 new businesses, a $3 million increase in revenue and over $4.5 million in capital funding. In 2024 alone, they have already assisted 106 clients, resulting in 18 new businesses, $879,438 in increased revenue, and $359,407 in capital funding, Dickinson explained.
Dickinson noted, “We are excited because we are seeing this model build momentum. Our advising hours this year are higher than ever, reflecting our growing impact and the increasing demand for our services.”
Micah Jonet, who provides Grow Ready, COVID-Ready, and Future-Ready assessments, emphasized the diverse range of businesses that CIE has supported. These include shipwrights, massage therapists, tea makers, wedding planners, artists, bakers and many others. Jonet also highlighted CIE’s commitment to inclusivity, noting that they work with a variety of clients, including those who are bilingual Spanish speakers.
The center’s values focus on justice, inclusiveness, diversity, equity and resilience. They strive to create spaces where everyone can discover their potential and build communities. Their approach involves starting with what entrepreneurs already have and know, taking small steps that build toward larger goals.
As CIE continues to grow and expand its reach, the organization remains focused on its core mission of empowering underserved communities. Both Dickinson and Jonet expressed optimism about the future, driven by the progress made over the past five years and the continued support from their network.
The Coffee With Colleen session highlighted the vital role CIE plays in supporting local entrepreneurs and fostering economic development in the region. “We are very excited,” said Dickinson and it is very fun to see how many people we are able to help.”
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Reporting intern Christopher Urquia is a student at Peninsula College. He can be reached by email at christopher.urquia@peninsuladailynews.com.
