7th Annual National Value-Added Ag Conference Indianapolis, Indiana June 16-17, 2005 The Role of Practitioners – Influencing the Entrepreneurial Culture Dr. Deborah Markey Co-Director RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

The Role of Practitioners Taking the pulse in your community Beginning the assessment process – What are your assets? – Who are your entrepreneurs? Organizing a visitation program Celebrating entrepreneurship

Taking the Community’s Pulse What is the community environment for entrepreneurship? How do perceptions of this environment vary across groups – elected officials, entrepreneurs, young people, older people? Tools

Tool #1: Community Support Test Convene focus groups throughout community to complete survey Compare results Share results with the community (chamber meetings, council meetings, civic club presentations)

Tool #2: Rate Your Community Support Convene a working group (broad representation from community) to complete survey Discuss specific responses to identify strengths and weaknesses in community’s support of entrepreneurs

Assessment What are your assets for supporting entrepreneurs? – Think more broadly than traditional economic development assets; include entrepreneurs, quality of life, Internet access, etc. Who are your entrepreneurs? – Understanding your entrepreneurial talent Tools

Tool #3: Asset Mapping Worksheets Organize a facilitated focus group of 7-10 individuals who really know the business development resources in your community and your region Identify assets Discuss quality of assets

Tool #4: E Talent Checklist and Mapping Worksheet Use same focus group (or convene a new one) to identify entrepreneurs/business owners by type of entrepreneurial talent Complete talent mapping worksheet for ALL entrepreneurs in your community

Entrepreneurial Talent Entrepreneurs Business Owners Potential Entrepreneurs Limited Potential Entrepreneurial Growth Co. Serial EsGrowth-Oriented LifestyleSurvival AspiringYouth Not Working Want to be An Employee Restarts Startups Can’t Work

Organize a Visitation Program Why? To refine the focus group’s assessment of entrepreneurial talent How? Organize a team to visit all entrepreneurs For what purpose? Identify needs of entrepreneurs and strategic target(s) for your entrepreneurship development activities Tools – visitation protocols on

Example: Ord Nebraska Visited all entrepreneurs and business owners “Discovered” growth entrepreneurs Identified business transfer issue for older entrepreneurs Strategic targeting to achieve results more quickly, efficient use of limited resources, address “burning issues”

Celebrate Success Write stories for local paper Develop a presentation on survey results and make the rounds of civic groups Invite entrepreneurs to chamber or community event to tell their stories Organize a joint ribbon cutting Invite your state legislators to community events, include them on your mailing lists, stories to staffers

Tools/Resources Stories on E 2 Energizing Entrepreneurs: Charting a Course for Rural Communities (coming this summer) Companion website (coming this summer)

For More Information Deb Markley – Don Macke – Brian Dabson –