For a limited time, special financial awards are available for qualifying start-up businesses in 21 southeastern Oklahoma counties with a high unemployment rate.  The funds are available through Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) through a grant from the Office of Community Services, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Financial assistance is available for start-up businesses in the sectors of child care, cosmetology, landscaping and lawn care. Eligibility is based on family income.  Participants will be required to attend REI’s workshop, Entrepreneurship 101, which includes business taxes, business plan development and marketing.  An itemized list of inventory or … Continue reading →

Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) announces the availability of the Individual Development Account (IDA), a matched savings account program to help families purchase their first home or help entrepreneurs start or expand their business.  The program is made possible through the partnership of REI and the U. S. Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services. Here is how the program works.  Participants make regular contributions to a supervised savings account for a minimum of six months.  REI matches $2 for every $1 saved, up to $2000.  This would potentially provide the participant up to $6000 total. Eligibility for … Continue reading →

Chris Meyers, Executive Vice President & CEO, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, has joined the board of directors of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI), a statewide economic development organization. In his current position, Meyers is responsible for providing a number of services to the state’s Electric Cooperatives including Safety and Loss Control programs, Self-insured Worker’s Comp group pool, state legislative issues and bill tracking, marketing and publication of Oklahoma Living magazine. Meyers is a graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering and the University of Oklahoma with an MBA.  He is also a registered … Continue reading →

ShapeXpress franchise owner Linda Rankin never intended to own her own business but that changed when out-of-town fitness center owners asked her if she would be interested in purchasing the existing business.  An advocate of physical fitness, Linda was already working out at the center and even started to help others with their work-outs.  She accepted the offer to purchase the business and entered the world of franchise owners. Rankin enthusiastically shared her experience and lessons learned at a recent conference of the Women’s Business Center of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI).  She pointed out that franchise royalties are … Continue reading →

Jeremy Layman of Durant is one of 31 individuals from across the state that graduated from the Oklahoma Citizens Academy.  This is a program of the Oklahoma Community Institute.  In its seventh year, the Citizens Academy seeks to increase the number of local leaders that are making a positive impact on the development of their communities. Layman serves Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) as Housing Program Specialist.  In his position, he markets REI’s down payment and closing cost assistance programs to help Oklahoma’s working families become proud homeowners.  He also visits with businesses, economic development partners and mortgage lenders.  … Continue reading →

Gilmer J. Capps, Lawton, is one of 31 individuals from across the state that graduated from the Oklahoma Citizens Academy.  This is a program of the Oklahoma Community Institute.  In its seventh year, the Citizens Academy seeks to increase the number of local leaders that are making a positive impact on the development of their communities. Capps serves Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) as field representative marketing the organization’s financing and business development services in southwestern Oklahoma. His responsibilities include visits with lenders, working with entrepreneurs and economic development partners. In addition he makes presentations to community leaders and … Continue reading →

Folks in the rural small community of Allen, OK are celebrating the expansion of J & Exchange, Inc., into their business incubator.  J & S Exchange located to Allen to accommodate its transportation and construction services business.  The company transports bulk material to road construction sites, primarily federal and state projects providing road bed stabilization services after the dirt work and before asphalt is applied. Joe and Sandra Nemecek said Allen was a perfect location for the expansion of their operation providing a convenient access south into Texas markets with Hwy. 75 providing similar convenience for northeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas. … Continue reading →

Bubbling hot corn chowder, zesty Jalapeno pepper relish, a moist whiskey cake, creatively iced cookies and pasta with a rich marinara sauce were some family favorites tried and tested at the recent “Starting a Food Business” workshop hosted by the Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.  Over 20 food entrepreneurs attended the workshop and almost all brought samples of their specialty for the taste test.  A tour of REI’s commercial kitchen was also part of the workshop. Featured presenter was Andrea Graves, OSU Food & Agricultural Products Center, who provided information on labeling and UPC codes, … Continue reading →

March 30, 2010 – Turning Family Recipe Into Marketable Product Is Focus of April Workshop Have a favorite family recipe you think is marketable?  How about the salsa or jelly you give to your friends? Want to test your product?  A free workshop sponsored by the Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI)  will address how to move your specialty food product into the marketplace.  The workshop will be held April 8 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the REI Conference Center, 2912 Enterprise Blvd., Durant. The workshop will provide answers to questions like “how … Continue reading →

Tom Seth Smith, President & CEO of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (REI) has been selected to serve on the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.  The Council advises the Federal Reserve Bank on current developments and emerging issues in community and economic development.  Council members are community and business leaders from the Tenth Federal Reserve District including Oklahoma, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico. The mission of the Federal Reserve Bank is to promote community development and fair and impartial access to financial products in the Tenth District. Smith, who is … Continue reading →