MERIT (MicroEnterprise Resources, Initiatives, and Training)

We help people explore, launch and grow successful small businesses through training and support. To start your journey with MERIT, watch the online information session on our website: meritnw.org. We are a nonprofit that help people start their own business or grow an existing business, particularly under-served members of our community. MERIT provides training, advising, and resources to entrepreneurs in Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties. The typical trajectory for our clients begins with watching our online information session. The next step is completing the Explore and Define Your Business training sessions (also offered in Spanish in Salem). We continue to help develop the participant’s business idea and model in the next level of training, Launch Your Business. Finally, we provide additional training and resources to ensure their business success after launching through Grow Your Business, a series of workshops and ongoing support. We also offer business start-up classes in Grand Ronde, called Indianpreneurship. And we’re involved and partnered with several asset-building organizations that serve as further resources to our clients. We are a founding member of the Mid-Valley Prosperity Network and the Alliance for Latino Microenterprise, partner in the Nourish Yamhill Valley collaborative in Yamhill County, and co-host of Expo Negocio.