Dr. John C. Allen, Utah State University Marilyn Schlake, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Entrepreneurship - Tools & Techniques Growing Opportunities & Rural Development 2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008

Presentation Overview 1.Research Questions  What role does the community play in fostering entrepreneurial behavior?  Does community structure influence the number of new jobs and businesses? 2.Research Findings 3.Communities & Businesses Working Together 4.Entrepreneurial Tools  Entrepreneurial Sustainable Agriculture CD  Tilling the Soil of Opportunity & More

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Self-Development Projects  Involvement in the effort by local organizations  Substantial investment of local resources  Local control of the resulting enterprises

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Five Recognized Development Strategies 1.Entrepreneurship 2.Business Retention and Expansion 3.Industrial Recruitment 4.Workforce Development 5.Tourism

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 THEORETICAL FOUNDATION- Community Development  Entrepreneurship – an economic development strategy embraced within broader concept of community development  Community development – “….group of people in a locality initiating a social process (i.e., planned intervention) to change their economic, cultural, and/or environmental situation.”  Development in the community vs. development of the community

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 NebraskaEDGE: A case study  Nebraska rural entrepreneurial training program  Hosted by local communities, organizations and associations  Develops community capacity and supports launching of new businesses and supports expanding existing businesses.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Desired Outcome  Building community capacity through facilitating new structural arrangements  Increased entrepreneurial activity within the community and region  The definition of entrepreneurial activity is expanded to include : Civic entrepreneurship Social entrepreneurship Both enhance a community’s capacity to respond to change.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 First Research Question  What role does community play?

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Relevance to government and communities Entrepreneurial activity can be viewed as individual and community activity How and if a community organizes itself impacts number of jobs and businesses started and expanded Development of community impacts entrepreneurism

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 ReferencesReferences Korsching, Peter F. and John C. Allen. “Locality Based Entrepreneurship: A strategy for community economic vitality.” Community Development Journal Vol 39 No. 4, 2004 pp Korsching, Peter F. & John C. Allen. “Local Entrepreneurship: A Development Model Based on Community Interaction Field Theory.” Journal of the Community Development Society. Vol. 35, No. 1, pp

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 NebraskaEDGENebraskaEDGE  EDGE is a community-based entrepreneurial training program designed to encourage the expansion of small businesses and enhance the economic climate of Nebraska communities.  Trained nearly 2,400 people interested in or operating a small business. Economic impacts and partners in 39 different regional centers affecting 280 different communities since  Selected as a Best Practice for Rural Economic Development by the National Governors Association, 2003 & 2004.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Community Benefits Build resources to successfully organize and conduct a training course. Increase business networking and cooperation. Create a supportive business environment. Experience an expanded economic.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Participant Benefits A completed business plan Practical business management skills, and decision-making tools. Potential start, expansion or divestiture of their business. Local business networks & enhanced relationships. Enhanced local economies.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Successful Communities  North Platte Coalition  Southeast Nebraska Coalition  Valley County Coalition  Tri-EDGE Region

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Tools for Business Development  Entrepreneurial Sustainable Ag DVD  Tilling the Soil of Opportunity  Building a Sustainable Business  Website Sites

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Entrepreneurial Sustainable Ag - Free DVD Alternatives for Processing, Packaging, Labeling and Marketing in Retail/Internet Environments  Training Tool for Educators and Farmers/Ranchers Working Together  Audio/Video Presentations  PPT Slides  Resource Directories – Western States

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 PresentationsPresentations  The Producer Perspective – Linda Gillmore  Marketing into Local Food Systems and Sustainable Marketing – Jim Dyer  A New Venture Creation Process – Aaron Johnson  eCommerce Overview and Technology – Eric Hawley  A Primer on Processing Foods to Add Value – Barbara Rasco  Farm Bill and Funding Opportunities for New Agriculture Marketing and Enterprises – Kim Leval

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008  Allows for realistic evaluation of ideas  Helps producers prepare for change  Shows opportunities and pitfalls  Brings family members and/or partners together to discuss the future  Increase income potential Your Business, Why Plan?

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008  The owners assumes the lead in the process  The planning process involves everyone in the family and/or business  The plan reflects reality  There is a contingency plan for the worst case scenario  The goals and objectives are achievable and clear  The plan is flexible  The plan is reviewed often and revised whenever “reality” dictates Successful Planning

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Tilling the Soil of Opportunity A producer-driven training program offered on the community level. A business management class organized around each participant’s business. An opportunity for producers to develop a well- reasoned and supported agricultural business plan that’s ready to take to the bank.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Course Topics 1.Take Stock of Your Business 2.Basic Equipment Required: Planning & Research 3.The Legal Terrain 4.Manage from the Ground Up 5.Plant it, Grow It, Market It 6.Reap the Benefits – Marketing Strategies 7.Get Your Budgets in Line 8.Analyze These: Cash Flow and Financial Statements 9.Cultivate Your Money Resources 10.Harvest Your Future

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Building a Sustainable Business  Developed by Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture & Sustainable Ag Network  Self-paced materials  Minar Business Plan example  Available on-line free A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Building a Sustainable Business  Task 1 – Identify Values  Task 2 – Farm History and Current Situation  Task 3 – Vision, Mission and Goals –  Task 4 – Strategic Planning and Evaluation  Task 5 – Present, Implement and Monitor Your Business Plan A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses.

2008 National SARE Conference  Kansas City, MO  March 25-27, 2008 Online Resources Start writing your business plan with INVenture... a business planning tool to successfully launch a new venture (formerly known as the AICC Business Planner). An easy-to-use guide to help you focus your business ideas and make your consultation more valuable Pre-businessPlanWorkbook.pdf Fact sheets, analysis tools, videos and other educational materials to help you create and operate a successful value-added agricultural business.

Contacts John C. Allen, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology Department of Sociology, Social Work & Anthropology 0730 Old Main Hill Utah State University Logan, Utah Phone: Marilyn Schlake Associate Director NebraskaEDGE Program Center for Applied Rural Innovation 103 Miller Hall University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE Phone: