Western’s Small Business Development Center to Co-Sponsor Rising Wages Workshop Oct. 22

Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is partnering with the City of Blaine and the Blaine Chamber of Commerce to host a workshop designed to help local businesses respond to the increase in the minimum wage that goes into effect on January 1, 2020; the free workshop will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the Blaine School District Conference Room, 765 H St., in Blaine.

Is your business prepared for a 12.5 percent increase in minimum wage? How will the coming change affect your profitability, employees, and customers?

At the workshop, a Certified Business Advisor from WWU’s SBDC will share ways to proactively plan for the wage increase including:

• Should you consider raising prices, and if so, when?
• Does every employee get a raise or just those making minimum wage?
• Steps you can take to control labor costs.
• How to prepare for conversations with employees.
• Communicating with customers.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Blaine School District Conference Room, 765 H St, Blaine, WA 98230

Cost: Attendance is free, but space is limited and registration is preferred. 

Registration: Pre-registrations encouraged, day-of registration available as space allows.  Register at https://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/99270784.

Presented by: City of Blaine, Blaine Chamber of Commerce and the WWU Small Business Development Center

For more information on how to register, please call the SBDC office at (360) 778-1762 or email sbdc@wwu.edu 

Since 1983, the Small Business Development Center has enabled Western Washington University to give back to the business community and has helped to shape the economic future of Whatcom County. The SBDC provides free, confidential advising, technical assistance, and research to business owners and managers in an effort to help businesses thrive throughout Whatcom County. For more information, please visit http://sbdc.wwu.edu.