Nebraska EDGE (Enhancing, Developing and Growing Entrepreneurs)

NebraskaEDGE (Enhancing, Developing and Growing Entrepreneurs) Marilyn Schlake, Associate Director Joy Marshall, Reg. Coordinator

Mission To promote community and economic growth through small business and management training. • Provide education and training for individuals • Partner with communities • Develop community support networks • Create and retain jobs • Generate economic and community development

Community Benefits • Expanded economic tax-base • Increased city and state sales tax • Amplifies financial contributions to community projects • Boosts participant involvement in community • Creates opportunities to meet local businesses • Expands knowledge of local available resources • Magnifies support of other business owners • Increase use of local resources

Entrepreneur Benefits • Use business plan as a decision tool • Increased management skills • Enhanced business relations • Improved interaction and support • Boosts business skills • Become better employees • Increase self – confidence

Course Administration & Roles • Lead Agent • Program Manager • Instructor(s) • Sponsors / Coalition

Lead Agency/Agent • Lateral mission with NebraskaEDGE • Non-profit organization • Oversees local program • Fiscal Agent • Local Contact

Program Manager • Liaison between the community and state office • Provides coordination • Implements EDGE programming • Assists in recruitment and interview of local instructor(s) • Markets local programming and sponsors • Recruits and facilitates sponsors/coalition members • Identifies and recruits prospective students • Assists with classroom organization • Schedules and corresponds with guest speakers • Conducts weekly and course end evaluations • Fiscal manager

Instructor(s) • Prepares and presents class lectures • Facilitate networking opportunities • Assists in the identification and selection of guest speakers • Provides one-on-one business counseling • Conducts on-site business visitation/counseling • Critiques and returns homework assignments • Provides final review of completed business plans • Participates in graduation events

Sponsors vs. Coalition Members Sponsors – pays a cash or in-kind fee in return for access to commercial benefits. Coalition members– non-cash exchange for a common goal of the organization, which includes recognition and prestige. Collaborative commitments- - Decision makers - Volunteer time - Assists with student recruitment

Sponsorship Program Creates economic development by offering a platform to promote products or services to a targeted group of individuals.

Sponsor Benefits • Creates business deals • Builds relationships • Highly targeted marketing opportunities • Builds awareness of the company • Assists with media exposure • Access to evaluation data • Create awareness & visibility • Showcases community responsibility • Opportunity to train employees

Recruitment Methods • Medias • Sponsors • Word of mouth • Organization presentations • Targeted mailings • Personal phone calls • Letters • E-mails As a new or existing business owner, the EDGE class is vital to the success of your business venture. You will learn all aspects of your business and how to market it appropriately. If you think the EDGE class is not worthwhile, then you have no business in business! Christine Sommer, Owner All aBout Caring North Platte, NE

Marketing Points • High quality materials • Superior instructors • Practical and usable information for businesses • Safe environment to explore new ideas and business ventures • Increased business skills and business networks • Written business critiques • One-on-ones • Proficient guest speakers Learn it today, Use it tommorrow

Registration Process • Sign the dotted line • Formal process • Pulls into evaluation pieces

Celebration

Local Evaluation & Reporting • Local Evaluation • Session evaluations • Final course evaluation • Local Reporting • Overview of class statistics • Summary of management • Actual cash flow • Evaluation results

State Evaluation & Reporting • Evaluation - • Reports from Coalitions • Biennial Business Survey • Personal Interviews • Case studies • Reporting – • Back to local coalitions and stakeholders • State funding sources • University Administration • Legislature

Questions?

Marilyn Schlake, Associate Director Center for Applied Rural Innovation 58 Filley Hall, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68583-0947 402.472.4138 / 800.328.2851 mschlake@unl.edu Joy Marshall, Regional Coordinator Center for Applied Rural Innovation PO Box 57 Arthur, NE 69121 308.764.2252 / 800.328.2851 jmarsha@neb-sandhills.net NebraskaEDGEContacts http://nebraskaedge.unl.edu

Nebraska EDGE (Enhancing, Developing and Growing Entrepreneurs)