Page 210 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

Understanding and Growing a Community’s Microbusiness Segment 199

possibility. Certainly, their competitors are doing so. Businesses in rural ar-
eas not only need an adequate technological infrastructure, but they need
the training and capacity to effectively use the technology.
One recent effort to enhance educational efforts for rural businesses re-
garding e-commerce is a national demonstration project led by the South-
ern Rural Development Center (SRDC) (2006). The project is funded by the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CREES) and
focuses on cataloging current and emerging e-commerce educational prod-
ucts and investing in the development of needed curricula through cooper-
ating Land Grant University faculty.
Currently, faculty teams are developing curricula to aid in education re-
lated to e-commerce. Topics include experiential strategies for Web-based
marketing, use of the Internet by farm business owners, marketing for gro-
cers and food retailers, promoting an e-commerce niche for rural artisans,
and assistance targeted to help rural communities become digitally con-
nected. In most cases, the modules will include PowerPoint slides, instructor
guides, and resource tools for instruction. The intent is to enhance the
development and delivery of e-commerce educational activities for rural
America. The Website (http://srdc.msstate.edu/ecommerce/index.html)
provides more detail on this project.
Another support effort may simply involve helping local business owners
and communities with basic Web and e-commerce skills. The SRDC and
Cooperative Extension Service together provided a national workshop to
teach local assistance providers basic e-commerce skills. The workshop, En-
trepreneurship and E-Commerce, focused on the building blocks of entrepre-
neurship and discussed barriers and market opportunities for small and ru-
ral communities. The workshop was led by a group of extension educators
from around the United States. The first segment of the weeklong workshop
focused on tools and programs to assist potential and emerging entrepre-
neurs. Later sessions focused on e-commerce topics, including marketing
strategies, Website design, and use of search engines. In a computer setting,
participants participated in hands-on applications, training modules, and
Internet techniques. (For additional information, see the SRDC Website.)
In addition, many organizations such as the Cooperative Extension Ser-
vice provide hands-on courses in Website development. The University of
Nebraska initiative (Technologies across Nebraska) is one example, and the
Access E-Commerce training Website developed by the University of Min-
nesota is another.
Finally, a complete support program for business owners must include
helping them develop their own networks. Many times, questions or needs
of business owners can be most quickly and easily answered through an
owner’s contacts. Local Chambers of Commerce and/or economic develop-
ment groups should encourage members to join. In addition, efforts should