Thank you, Spearia for creating this very cool logo: m2E
And thanks to Don, one of our micro-business owners, for our catch phrase:
micro . . . 2Enterprise . . . and BEYOND!!!
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Starting small, thinking “beyond”
Integral to the sustainability of micro businesses is creating systems of support.
- Macro networks of support include community partnerships; tapping business expertise in universities and small businesses.
- Micro networks of support are built around each micro business; supporting the business owner as needed in every aspect of running a business.
A brief history of microenterprise
Back in the 70s and 80s, microenterprise became quite popular in third world countries. NGOs would coordinate the program to support people with an innovative idea that would help a family move out of poverty by offering micro-loans. The primary barrier they had was no access to commercial loans. It was found that the “high risk” micro-loans were paid back at a higher success rate that typical bank loans.
Early 1990, the US SBA added the category of microenterprise to the existing categories of small, medium, and large businesses. The definition in the US is a business with less than 5 employees requiring less than $35,000 for startup.
The interest in microenterprise for innovatively providing ways for people to move out of poverty in the US has been steadily growing in many areas: homelessness, prisoner re-entry, disabilities, among organizations involved in economic / community development.
“Supported Self-Employment and micro enterprise initiatives gained energy in Michigan beginning in 1999 and 2000. The foundation of both models is built on the principles of self-determination” (Supported Self Employment 101). Services for microenterprise development have been provided by Community Mental Health Medicaid Funds for people with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses for the past decade.
In 2007, the Aspen Institute did a study of the Michigan’s microenterprise field, called Making Every Business Count, with finds and recommendations. Findings showed that of all startups only 20% access small business development services. The gap of access is important to look at in order to best use each community’s resources and to ensure that those at the fringes of society are accessing the resources they need. See attachment, p. 6.
In the fall of 2008, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) hosted a local Focus Group on Micro Enterprise in Grand Rapids to do research for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation on past use, successes and failures, of local micro-lending initiatives. See attached for the report and the notes on the Focus Group, including local organizations that were present at the table.
In February of 2009, LISC hosted a statewide microenterprise summit at Lawrence University bringing microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) together from all over the state. The conclusion of the summit was that the only real option for Michigan to move forward economically is to become a entrepreneurial state. Many states in the union have a statewide microenterprise association (for network among MDOs) and a statewide microenterprise intermediary to manage micro-loans.
In October of 2009, a Microenterprise Working Group Strategy Session was held at the state capitol by State Representatives Jon M. Switalski, 25th House District, and Gary McDowell, 107th House District, and Michigan LISC.
The Legislation
On April 29, House Bills No. 6051 and No. 6052 went before the house committee. The first (6051) authorizing a Center for Microenterprise Development and a Microenterprise Development Advisory Board that would coordinate microenterprise training and business mentoring across the state. The second bill (6052) authorized a micro-loan fund raised from private and public dollars. They have now passed the House and are going before the Senate.
The Research
The bills are based on the report that came out in December of 2009, by the CLEG Supporting & Growing a State Culture of Entrepreneurship Committee. The report is called “Bold Voices, Bold Choices: Making Michigan ‘the place’ to start, grow & retain a business”.
Link to these documents here:
HB 6051 as passed by the House
HB 6052 as passed by the House
CLEG Supporting & Growing a State Culture of Entrepreneurship.pdf
DW MAHC MicroEnt Trends 4 2010 FINAL.pdf
Microenterprise in Grand Rapids.pdf
Create your own facebook business page.
(CNN) “In 2010, facebook beat out Google as the No. 1 most-visited site in the United States“!!! Don’t miss this opportunity. Put your business on facebook for free! For an example, check out Micro2Enterprise on facebook and become a fan.
Here are step by step directions on how to do it:
1. Sign up for facebook. You’ll need your own username and password. This will make you a member of facebook with your own page.
2. Sign in to your page. Go to the top blue bar to the search box and type in “pages”. Click on the drop down list where it says “facebook pages, facebook” (not “app”).
3. Go to the top of the page (not the blue bar) and click on the button that says “Create Page” (top right).
4. Go to the column that says Official Page and go down to where it says “Create a page for a:”. Then click on “Local Business”.
5. Below that, create your page name. Use the name of your business.
6. Put a check in the box that says, “I am an official representative of this business”.
7. Click “Create Official Page”. It will ask you that again and click “create page” again.
8. You now have a facebook business page. You can add a logo or picture. You can add your contact information. You can use this page link to connect to tother pages, like a website or an on-line business directory.
Please see “PAGES” in the right column of this page. Under “PAGES” you’ll find many different pages of tools & resources for you to use for micro enterprise development.
- Business Registration, Licenses, and Regulations
- Fact Sheets (what we are learning about a variety of issues related to ME)
- Forms and Documents (these are core to developing micro enterprise)
What you’ll find
- Feasibility Assessment & Interest Survey
- Micro Enterprise Development Process
- Micro Enterprise Checklist (for the ME development process)
- Business Plan Template
- Cost Sheet to be used with the Business Plan Template
- Person-Centered Strategy Session (for building a team of support)
- How to advertise your business
- Research on micro enterprise from local to national
- 20 research studies and tools on the micro enterprise field
- Sales Opportunities
Check out a wide variety of business ideas that others have tried out.
The Everyday Entrepreneur. Microbusiness Ideas: Start Small and Earn Extra Money
Business Opportunities – Ideas For New Businesses. Finding the Real Opportunities
Integral to the sustainability of micro businesses is creating systems of support.
- Macro networks of support include community partnerships; tapping business expertise in universities and small businesses.
- Micro networks of support are built around each micro business; assisting the business owner in every aspect of running a business.
Here are some of our community partners:
John Bosserman, owner of nextsummit, sales and marketing consultant
Fred Idema, owner of Wholesale Specials and Keystone Accents, internet sales consultant
Sandy Willison of BHT&D GUSCO, accounting consultant
Spearia, Inc, a marketing and web development company, designed our logo.
Ellohay! is a nonprofit that donated 23 laptops for our business owners.
Dr. Wayne Sneath, Director of Experiential Learning, Davenport University
Davenport University Professional Business Writing Class and Business Capstone Course
Davenport University Honors Professional Accountancy Program
Calvin College Engineering Program and Social Work Program
Calvin College Oral History, Community Voices Project
More about community partnerships:
Our community partners and entrepreneurs, John and Fred, have been coming to the ME Club every month offering expert advise in sales and marketing and internet sales. They are will to work with YOU individually. So if you need help just let us know!
Davenport University has come to our assistance in many ways. The latest project is designing a website for microenterprise containing a blog, a social network, and a wiki. They raised money to pay for 4 years on the server. The newest project coming up is that the Honors Professional Accountancy Program is helping us design a book keeping system for you to use. They will also enter your information on sales and market and give you a financial report that will be explained to you. Marketing students are helping our business owners upgrade their marketing materials, design a computer training manual for the new laptop owners, and the business senior capstone class even wrote business plan for our program. Hurray to DU!!!
Calvin College Engineering Program has helped us design equipment and products for our micro enterprise owners as actual prototype designs, prototype displays, and assistive technology.
Check out all of the places you can get on the Internet with your laptop in Grand Rapids. Make sure you check the list and make sure it is free.
List form: http://grwifi.net/locations
Map form: http://grwifi.net/locations/map
Under our “Pages” check out our newest addition: Fact Sheets.
Find out more information about social security benfits, benefits planning, income taxes, how to get your taxes done for free, and even some tips on naming your business.
