As tax expert and economist Rick Kelo knows full well, investing in
one’s own stomping grounds is becoming increasingly common. Residents of the
state of Oregon can now take advantage of the opportunities offered by an
online organization titled Hatch Oregon.
Hatch Oregon consists of financial experts and
other citizens who are intent on creating better infrastructure for the state.
Events are held to showcase opportunities in the area, for example. The website
also contains information on new businesses seeking capital. Each new business
has a clearly-delineated business plan, stating the return on investment for
potential backers. The business is outlined – is it a restaurant? An online or
bricks-and-mortar store? Does it provide a specific service that is lacking or
underrepresented in the community? All the information is right there, in
clear, concise language.
Hatch Oregon works with leaders across the
state to provide the necessary workshops and informational resources. The
website offers a chat function so that potential investors, and anyone else
wishing to learn more about the opportunities inherent in this new feature, can
find out immediately what they can do, and how they can do it.
One of the many advantages
of investing locally is that when local businesses do well, so does the
community served by these businesses. It’s a win-win situation. And a new one;
previously, private citizens were unable to invest in a business in which they
had no ownership interest. Now, this is no longer the case. In 2015, a new law
was enacted to push the economy forward in a new and dynamic way, opening new
business horizons for everyone. One of the businesses on the website seeking
investors is a manufacturer of high-quality baseball bats. Another is a
brewery. One success story is a manufacturer of ice cream, which was able, due
to the money raised by its listing on the website, to open a bricks-and-mortar
location in downtown Eugene, Oregon.