[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        OREGON HERO OF THE WEEK

 Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to a 
community's extraordinary effort to improve their situation. In the 
past year, Oregonians have faced innumerable economic challenges. With 
unemployment rates surpassing all other States, Oregonians have been 
pushed to the limit. But in the relatively small eastern Oregon 
community of Baker County, the citizens refused to give in to economic 
pressures. The Baker Enterprise Growth Initiative, BEGIN, is helping 
Baker County grow, one business at a time.
  BEGIN has helped community Entrepreneurs realize their dreams of 
running successful small businesses. BEGIN uses simple, yet effective 
models to help business owners understand the importance of a balance 
between product, marketing and financial stability. Management becomes 
a team effort and people are able to succeed at their strengths while 
relying on others as well.
  BEGIN is a community effort and its successes lift the entire region. 
In August of 2001, the BEGIN Program was awarded the Kaufmann 
Foundation Pioneer Award for Leadership in Entrepreneurial Promotion at 
the National Association of Development Organizations' Annual 
Conference in San Antonio, TX. Members of the Northeast Oregon Economic 
Development District were also able to present the BEGIN program and 
accomplishments to the over 200 economic development professionals from 
across the Nation.
  BEGIN has not only provided much needed economic development in Baker 
County, but has also shown Oregonians, and the entire Nation, that we 
will overcome this period of economic hardship. BEGIN truly exemplifies 
the pioneer heritage and nature of Baker County in searching for its 
own solutions to problems rather than waiting for someone else to come 
solve their problems for them. I am proud to salute the Baker 
Enterprise Growth Initiative as the Oregon Hero of the Week.

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