This document summarizes Michigan's pilot Economic Gardening program which partners local librarians and economic development agencies to provide research and coaching support to small businesses. The program tested models in Tuscola County and Keweenaw/Houghton Counties to select and work with entrepreneurs, train librarians and coaches, develop a central support system, conduct competitive research for clients, and assess the program's effectiveness. Key lessons included the importance of business coaching, managing high volumes of research, and developing sustainable community and central support systems. The goal is an integrated network of local entrepreneur resources and customized central support services.

1. Speaker Barbara Fails
Economic Gardening is Sprouting in Michigan
Barbara Fails – MSU Land Policy Institute
Christine Hamilton-Pennell – Growing Local Economies
National Economic Gardening Gathering in Glacial Lakes Area, South Dakota
June 17-19, 2009
Michigan Pilot EG Program
• Core Team
Small Business Assoc. of Mich. Growing Local Economies
Shepherd Advisors Michigan Library Assoc.
MSU (Agriculture, Library, Product Center) Library of Michigan
• Tuscola County (EDC, coaches and 5 entrepreneurs)
• Keweenaw and Houghton Counties (EDC, coaches and
5 entrepreneurs)
• USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant
Objectives
Test a distributed EG program delivery model
in rural communities in Michigan
•Partner local librarian (researcher) with local economic
develop agency (business coach) to provide direct services
•Support the direct service providers centrally
•Discover what data resources are publically available, what
data resources are needed
•Develop a statewide business model for rural communities

2. Speaker Barbara Fails
Community Based Model
Community Model
Central Support Team
Service Providers
Coach
Coach
Community
Librarian
Coach
Two Pilot Communities
Keweenaw
& Houghton Tuscola
Counties County
38,317 people 58,266 people
$31,076 MHI $42,344 MHI
2000 census data
Preparation and Tactics
1. Select entrepreneurs
2. Train librarians and business coaches
3. Develop a central support system
4. Provide EG competitive intelligence services
1. Interview
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Report
5. Present findings to entrepreneurs, develop strategies
5. Assess the model and service delivery

3. Speaker Barbara Fails
Select Entrepreneurs
• Revenues < $1,000,000
• In business for at least 1 yr.
• Growth‐oriented
• Willing to act on research
from the EG services
• Willing to participate in
project assessment
Train Librarians and Coaches
Coaching role
Research role
Data resources
available
Reviewed actual
clients
Assigned the work
Case studies
Develop a Central Support System
• Growing Local Economies project consultant
• MLA / Business Librarians competitive intelligence
• MSU Team
– Business Library competitive intelligence
– Product Center market analysis
– Center for Economic Analysis project assessment
– Rural Entrepreneurship project coordination

4. Speaker Barbara Fails
Provide Competitive Intelligence Services
• Interview
• Research
• Analysis
• Report
• Present findings
to entrepreneurs,
develop strategies
Assess the Project
• Survey to clients
served
• Key observations and
lessons from core
team and central
support team
What We Learned
• Prequalification process – not all are ready for EG
• Importance of the business coach
• Getting to the questions – many heads are good
• Expectations of the program
• Access to information and databases
• Primary vs. secondary data needs

5. Speaker Barbara Fails
What We Learned
• Organizing, referencing data
• Synthesizing the recommendations
• Preparing the report
• Communicating with client, coach ‐ iterative
• Each case is unique
• Takes a lot of time
Toward an Integrated System
• Community assets
– Entrepreneur resource centers (meet up places)
– Entrepreneur databases (virtual access to information)
– Networks, professional services, biz coaching, peers
• Central support
– Customized EG services to select clients
– Leveraged purchase of databases
– Marketing, program support for communities through
existing infrastructure
Challenges and Opportunities
Business model
Time management
Business coaching
Infrastructure/systems
Client prequalifying
Library, community roles
Diversity of needs
Partnerships
Capacity development

6. Speaker Barbara Fails
Barbara Fails, Ph.D.
Entrepreneurship is Pure Michigan Associate Director
EntrepreneurshipLand Policy Institute
is Pure
Michigan State University
Michigan307 Manly Miles Building
East Lansing, MI 48823
www.landpolicy.msu.edu
fails@msu.edu
517-432-3287