Barb Fails Ppt
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This document summarizes a pilot economic gardening program in Michigan that partners local libraries and economic development agencies to provide competitive intelligence services to small businesses. The program aims to test a distributed model of delivery in rural communities. Two pilot sites were selected - Keweenaw and Houghton Counties and Tuscola County. The program involves selecting entrepreneurs, training librarians and coaches, developing a central support system, providing competitive intelligence services to entrepreneurs, and assessing the model. Key lessons learned include the importance of business coaching, managing expectations, and addressing challenges around capacity, infrastructure, and client needs.
Barb Fails Ppt
- 1. Economic Gardening is Sprouting in Michigan Barbara Fails – MSU Land Policy Institute Christine Hamilton-Pennell – Growing Local Economies National Economic Gardening Gathering in Glacial Lakes Area, South Dakota June 17-19, 2009
- 2. Michigan Pilot EG Program • Core Team Small Business Assoc. of Mich. Growing Local Economies Shepherd Advisors Michigan Library Assoc. MSU (Agriculture, Library, Product Center) Library of Michigan • Tuscola County (EDC, coaches and 5 entrepreneurs) • Keweenaw and Houghton Counties (EDC, coaches and 5 entrepreneurs) • USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant
- 3. Objectives Test a distributed EG program delivery model in rural communities in Michigan •Partner local librarian (researcher) with local economic develop agency (business coach) to provide direct services •Support the direct service providers centrally •Discover what data resources are publically available, what data resources are needed •Develop a statewide business model for rural communities
- 4. Community Based Model Community Model Central Support Team Service Providers Coach Coach Community Librarian Coach
- 5. Two Pilot Communities Keweenaw & Tuscola Houghton County Counties 58,266 people 38,317 people $42,344 MHI $31,076 MHI 2000 census data
- 6. Preparation and Tactics 1. Select entrepreneurs 2. Train librarians and business coaches 3. Develop a central support system 4. Provide EG competitive intelligence services – Interview – Research – Analysis – Report – Present findings to entrepreneurs, develop strategies 5. Assess the model and service delivery
- 7. Select Entrepreneurs • Revenues < $1,000,000 • In business for at least 1 yr. • Growth-oriented • Willing to act on research from the EG services • Willing to participate in project assessment
- 8. Train Librarians and Coaches Coaching role Research role Data resources available Reviewed actual clients Assigned the work Case studies
- 9. Develop a Central Support System • Growing Local Economies project consultant • MLA / Business Librarians competitive intelligence • MSU Team – Business Library competitive intelligence – Product Center market analysis – Center for Economic Analysis project assessment – Rural Entrepreneurship project coordination
- 10. Provide Competitive Intelligence Services • Interview • Research • Analysis • Report • Present findings to entrepreneurs, develop strategies
- 11. Assess the Project • Survey to clients served • Key observations and lessons from core team and central support team
- 12. What We Learned • Prequalification process – not all are ready for EG • Importance of the business coach • Getting to the questions – many heads are good • Expectations of the program • Access to information and databases • Primary vs. secondary data needs
- 13. What We Learned • Organizing, referencing data • Synthesizing the recommendations • Preparing the report • Communicating with client, coach - iterative • Each case is unique • Takes a lot of time
- 14. Toward an Integrated System • Community assets – Entrepreneur resource centers (meet up places) – Entrepreneur databases (virtual access to information) – Networks, professional services, biz coaching, peers • Central support – Customized EG services to select clients – Leveraged purchase of databases – Marketing, program support for communities through existing infrastructure
- 15. Challenges and Opportunities Business model Time management Business coaching Infrastructure/systems Client prequalifying Library, community roles Diversity of needs Partnerships Capacity development
- 16. Barbara Fails, Ph.D. Entrepreneurship is Pure Michigan Associate Director EntrepreneurshipLand Policy Institute is Pure Michigan 307 Manly Miles Building Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48823 www.landpolicy.msu.edu fails@msu.edu 517-432-3287