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

Michigan Pilot EG Program Core Team Small Business Assoc. of Mich.Growing Local Economies Shepherd AdvisorsMichigan 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

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

Identify need for competitive intelligence Conduct the research, analyze findings, and prepare report Develop a strategy, set targets for business impacts Implement the strategy and monitor impacts Coach Community Librarian Coach Service Providers Coach Central Support Team Community Model Community Based Model

Two Pilot Communities Keweenaw & Houghton Counties 38,317 people $31,076 MHI 2000 census data Tuscola County 58,266 people $42,344 MHI

Preparation and Tactics 1.Select entrepreneurs 2.Train librarians and business coaches 3.Develop a central support system 4.Provide EG competitive intelligence services 1.Interview 2.Research 3.Analysis 4.Report 5.Present findings to entrepreneurs, develop strategies 5.Assess the model and service delivery

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

Train Librarians and Coaches Coaching role Research role Data resources available Reviewed actual clients Assigned the work Case studies

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

Provide Competitive Intelligence Services Interview Research Analysis Report Present findings to entrepreneurs, develop strategies

Assess the Project Survey to clients served Key observations and lessons from core team and central support team

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

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

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

Challenges and Opportunities Business model Time management Business coaching Infrastructure/systems Client prequalifying Library, community roles Diversity of needs Partnerships Capacity development

Entrepreneurship is Pure Michigan Barbara Fails, Ph.D. Associate Director Land Policy Institute Michigan State University 307 Manly Miles Building East Lansing, MI Entrepreneurship is Pure Michigan