Economic Gardening is Sprouting in Michigan

Barbara Fails – MSU Land Policy InstituteChristine 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 EconomiesShepherd 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

ObjectivesTest 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

Coach

Community Librarian

Coach

Service ProvidersCoach

Central Support Team

Community ModelCommunity 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 Tactics1. Select entrepreneurs2. Train librarians and business coaches3. Develop a central support system4. Provide EG competitive intelligence services

1. Interview2. Research3. Analysis4. Report5. 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 CoachesCoaching 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 OpportunitiesBusiness 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 InstituteMichigan State University307 Manly Miles BuildingEast Lansing, MI 48823www.landpolicy.msu.edufails@msu.edu 517-432-3287

Entrepreneurship is Pure Michigan