1. Increase Outreach through Co-Branding

2. Question: How was the small rural City of Chelsea, Michigan able to become a 5-Star City for entrepreneurial climate? Answer: Through the use of co-branding and collaboration between the MI-SBTDC and the Chelsea District Library. Library-Biz Connect

3. Co-Branding: Why? When effectively done, co-branding provides a way for organizations to combine forces so that their marketing efforts work in synergy. Capitalizing on each other's resources for cost savings. From an organizational perspective co- branding represents an opportunity for a win-win scenario. Co-Branding Advantages Co-Branding Advantages

4. Co-Branding: Who? Select a highly reputable partner organization. Select a complementary or synergistic partner organization. Select a partner organization within the same regional area. Select a partner organization with a proven history of successfully serving your target population. Co-Branding Guidelines Co-Branding Guidelines

5. Co-Branding: Who? Local Partners Community Ownership Appropriate Technology or Facilities Knowledge to Implement Programs Aware of Small Business Issues Measure and Monitor Success Co-Branding Guidelines Co-Branding Guidelines

6. Collaborate: Why Libraries & SBDC’s?

7. SBDC’s Need Greater Public Awareness of Available Services Clients for Consulting Space for Business Workshops Private Areas for Consulting Small Business Champions Collaborate: Why Libraries & SBDC’s?

8. Public Libraries Need Innovative Workshops for Adult Patrons Greater Public Awareness of Benefits Larger Participation in the Local Community Increased Use of Library Resources Library Champions Collaborate: Why Libraries & SBDC’s?

9. A view from the outside: Loss of value

10. Public Libraries Community College Library University Libraries Local Newspapers SBTDC Local Banks DDA Local First Movements Chambers of Commerce Business District Associations Rotary SCORE A view from the outside:

11. National and/or Regional Business Service Organizations Local Public Library Washtenaw Community College University Libraries Rotary Local Banks Chambers of Commerce Main Street Business Associations Local First Movements Local Newspapers DDA Local Entities that exist in most communities Entities that serve large geographic areas. Small Business Owners Entrepreneurs

13. Who are we? Libraries Public Libraries ◦In and around Washtenaw, Livingston, Wayne, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties ◦Academic Libraries ◦Washtenaw Community College ◦University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University Michigan eLibrary Small Business Service Organizations National Organizations ◦SBDC ◦SCORE Local Chambers Local Organizations ◦Arts Meets Business ◦Business Consultants ◦SPARK Ann Arbor ◦Food System Economic Partnership

14. Who We Serve

15. Mission statement: To provide access to a network of business information and support services for new and existing small businesses. We aim to: Position public libraries as the local portal for economic development. Connect average businesses to knowledge, data, training, and business counseling in an approachable environment. Pool regional resources to benefit our local communities.

17. SBDC’s Lower or maintain operating costs by leveraging shared resources Larger geographic reach Free marketing Free space for workshops and one-on-one counseling Reduce risk of trying something new - learn from each other’s mistakes and success Identify new markets Deepen community relationships Can focus on what you do REALLY well Co-Branding Benefits

18. Libraries Show off - Librarians know how to get business information, that’s powerful! Usage statistics to provide stakeholders Recommendations for collection development Education about resources Deepen community relationships More patrons and new audiences for programming Build relationships to access resources

19. What We Offer

20. Biz Resource Centers Spring 2009Fall 2010 WCC’s Bailey Library Ypsilanti District Library Chelsea District Library Dexter District Library Jackson District Library & Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) Brighton District Library 48 miles 32 miles 57 miles

21. Biz Resource Centers MI-SBTDC BRC’s: The Biz Resource Center is a partnership program between local libraries or organizations and the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. ◦One-stop locations where current and future small business owners can receive business assistance and advice. ◦The latest computer technology, hardware and software, and extensive small business reference library of hard copy books, and publications. ◦Software for a variety of business applications, addressing diverse business.

22. Roles & Responsibilities

23. SBDC’sLibraries’ Marketing Presenters for business workshops One-on-one consultations Doing what we do REALLY well, working with business owners Stay up to date on what resources are available Marketing Program offerings: workshops on business topics Facilities for workshops and business counseling Refer patrons to appropriate resource Internally educate staff about the collaborative

24. Co-Branding at Work Putting it to Use in a Public Library Grow Your Business 1:1 Consulting monthly Taking Care of Business Workshops ◦Fundamentals of Starting Your Own Business ◦Writing a Business Plan ◦Finance: What Your Small Business Must Know ◦Marketing Your Business Online ◦Borrow A Business Expert ◦Food, Farming and Business

25. Co-Branding at Work It’s all about who you know! Speakers found through contacts with libraries These contacts are crucial for successful marketing as well Expanding your own contacts Outreach to your audience

26. Co-Branding at Work Directed Marketing

27. Co-Branding at Work Lessons Learned Don’t do it by yourself because you don’t have to The business world is about networking, and by networking with libraries SBDC’s can better meet the needs of business owners Ask to be asked It works…

28. Case Study Lessons Learned Attended Workshop 1-on-1 Session at Library Further Consultation Opened Main St. Business

29. Defining Differences: Approachable environment Known community entity Accessible facility Distributed workload Pooled resources Co-Branding at Work

30. Local Recognition Visible Asset to the Community Chelsea named 5-Star City for entrepreneurial climate for our “work to foster economic development.” Library’s partnership with SBTDC recognized alongside tax incentives and the Downtown Development Authority.

31. Where do we go from here?

32. Action Steps Start somewhere Find a Fit Utilize your local connections Know your resources Ignore the naysayers Outreach: Don’t wait to be asked

33. Contact Information Shannon Beeman, MI-SBTDC Washtenaw Community College 301 West Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti, MI 734.547.9170 srbeeman@wccnet.edu Victoria Bennett, WCC Washtenaw Community College 4800 E Huron River, Ann Arbor, MI 734.973.3300