News

Economic development initiative targets rural Iowa – MyEntreNet

In 1999, after 26 years in the manufacturing sector, Rich Lukes left his job and bought the Spillville Locker in northeast Iowa. He’s learned to make award-winning sausage and maintain a happy workforce. Sales and production have more than doubled and, with an operation that’s bursting at the seams, future growth is inevitable.

But how to get there is another question.

“I’m good at what I do, but there are so many things that I don’t know,” he said. “To do what I’m planning on doing is scary.” The future’s uncertainties sent Lukes searching for help, anything that might be able to set him in the right direction.

The answer: MyEntreNet http://www.uni.edu/rbc/services/newrural.html
, a community-director, rural-focused small business development program launched Sept. 30 by the University of Northern Iowa Regional Business Center/Small Business Development Center. While the program is similar in its goal to aid the establishment and growth of small businesses, MyEntreNet specifically targets the needs of rural Iowa business owners who, unlike their urban counterparts, may lack the tools and resources needed to thrive.

“We really decided to make a long term investment in rural economic vitality and in helping rural Iowa improve its local economies through entrepreneurship,” said James Hoelscher, a program manger for the UNI Regional Business Center/SBDC.

By Erin Morain

Full Story: http://www.businessrecord.com/Main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=2216

***

MyEntreNet

A Rural Business Accelerator Program

Rural Entrepreneurship and the Model Behind MyEntreNet

What Is MyEntreNet?

Phase 1 – Community Empowerment

Phase 2 – Business Empowerment

Phase 3 – Sustainability

MyEntreNet – The Web Application

Economic Impact

Who Applies?

RBAP Sponsors

Rural Entrepreneurship and the Model Behind MyEntreNet
The University of Northern Iowa’s Regional Business Center believes innovative entrepreneurship development will become the hallmark of rural prosperity. Entrepreneurship can stabilize regional economies, localize decision-making, and generate rural wealth.

According to the Center for the Study of Rural America, small, locally owned firms diversify a community’s economic base, insulating the region from economic flux.

Policymakers throughout the United States have identified three guiding principles to encourage entrepreneurial activity:

1. Building and strengthening a community culture for entrepreneurs.

2. Improving the skill set of individual entrepreneurs.

3. Creating entrepreneur networks.

The Regional Business Center has simultaneously developed all three: community culture, skill set and network – packaging them in an innovative program called MyEntreNet.

http://www.uni.edu/rbc/services/newrural.html

Posted in:

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.