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We know from research
that small businesses are the major drivers
of job growth,
not only in Indiana, but nationally
So in Indiana right now,
roughly 85% of all businesses
that exist in our state,
employ less than 100 people
And they are the ones who are really
most likely to add new jobs
to their portfolios
so they really are the growth machine in the state
but we often times over look them
because we are trying to get that big company
to come into Indiana and so
unfortunately what we are trying to do
is help educate local decision makers,
local economic development groups
about the importance and value that small businesses
play to the economic health of our state
We have a lot of local and regional
economic development groups
across the state of Indiana
Their purpose and part is to help
recruit and attract companies that come to the state
We don't want to do what they are doing
because they are doing that well
What we want to do is help communities
realize that they have a lot of
economic assets that exist
in the community already
and how can we better help them
recognize and build on those assets
So what are those?
Well clearly, we are talking about
those small businesses that exist already
so we are trying to do business
retention expansion
How can we help existing businesses
get past some of the impediments that it
faces in terms of growth
So we try to recognize what those are
and try to find ways in which we can help them grow
by removing those barriers
One thing we found about entrepreneurs is that
they need guidance
They need peers with whom they can interact
and maybe ask for support, guidance, ideas
and so some of our community development educators
are really helping create a business network
primarily for small businesses
so that they have entities with whom
they can really relate
and hopefully get some really good ideas
on how they can improve their
business acumen also their business growth.
When we are together as a group in small business
what I like to say is if we are working together
and we get to know each other
and trust each other,
then we are able to provide our services
to those very people that are within
the group we belong.
And once I believe we get their trust
at that point they believe in us
and they are going to be able to provide
future customers and clients
to us for future business.
When we first started the purpose was even
a lot more organic than it is now.
So the idea was to have a cup of coffee,
to get to know each other,
and over time there have been
needs identified such as
they wanted a professional development component,
they wanted to have a little more time
to market their business.
Power of workshops developed out of a need
for more professional development
than we could do in a 15 or 20 minute segment
during our networking time on the 2nd Tuesday
so we decided to develop a 4th Tuesday
where we could have a longer program
that would be specific to the needs of
business owners.
Things like pricing strategy and
market segmentation
and target marketing
and how to differentiate a product.
All kinds of different modules that
Joan Fulton can bring for the new ventures team.
They have developed some really wonderful
curriculum that we are really blessed to give
them access to here in Clinton County.
From a small business side I don't think
that we could do
business the proper way without having
the extension office help us.
They have been a phenomenal asset
and I know Melinda Grismer with the extension office
has been our rock really for the last couple of years
to keep our group together
and to help us and
give us the tools that we need
to better our businesses.
I just don't believe that without
those services being offered to us
that we would have the resources available
to help us get a little bit better
in what we do business wise
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