University of Maine Cooperative Plan of Work 2007-2011 Program ID 1 Start Date: Ending Date:
Program Name
Entrepreneurship: Small and Home-based Business
Program Description: The University of Maine Cooperative Extension provides small and home-based business education to Maine residents through a network of Extension offices throughout the state. Using research-based information and other resources, faculty and staff provide educational programs targeting home-based and micro-enterprise businesses in any stage of their business life, especially the "thinking about it" stage. Our programs help Maine entrepreneurs improve their decision-making and business skills so their businesses can grow and prosper. Our educational programs also help business assistance providers and community economic development agencies become more knowledgeable about small business management. Goal(s) 2 Increase the Economic and Social Viability, and Sustainability of Maine Communities. Issue Areas Primary Issue Area Entrepreneurship - Small and Home Based Business Other Issues Agriculture - Sustainable Business Management Community Development: Capacity/Building Skills Family Relations and Transitions Sustainable Communities Youth Development Outcomes Action Outcome Establish and sustain viable businesses (5) Action Steps Develop a business plan Develop a financial plan Design and implement small business conference Develop marketing tools Adopt appropriate technologies Use relevant UMCE web-based resources Decrease business costs Increase business revenues Retain a business Expand a business Transition a business to closure Develop customer service plan
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Form collaborative group Conduct educational activities through cooperative or collaborative effort Create jobs Develop a marketing plan Decide not to create non-viable business Adopt business management practice Participate in networking opportunities Adopt record-keeping system Establish a business Action Outcome Develop and manage community resources (7) Action Steps Use the inventory of community assets Improve business environment through group effort Mobilize a community's existing and potential capacities, assets or resources Inventory community assets Use relevant UMCE web-based resources Assess community needs Adopt tourism plan Develop tourism plan Develop community resources Manage community resources Learning Outcome Learn effective business management skills Learning Indicators Contact business assist organizations Access small business information Understand small business information Describe the components of a business plan Describe the components of a marketing plan Describe the components of a record-keeping system Describe the components of a customer service plan Describe the value of networks Describe how to create or join a network Learning Outcome Learn models of positive tourism development Learning Indicators Demonstrate how to complete a community tourism inventory Demonstrate group, organizational, or personal leadership activities Conduct group, organizational, or personal leadership assessment Describe the components of a tourism plan
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Outputs Activity Direct – Applied research Direct – AV resource Direct – Clinic Direct – Collaborative or cooperative effort Direct – Conference or symposium Direct – Consultation Direct – Display or exhibit Direct – Experiential learning Direct – Forum Direct – Public presentation Direct – Seminar Direct – Trade area analyses Direct – Train-the-trainer Direct – Workshop – series Direct – Workshop – single session Direct – Written or e-mail response to client request Indirect – Applied research Indirect – AV resource Indirect – Display or exhibit Indirect – Publication – abstract Indirect – Publication – curriculum Indirect – Publication – fact sheet Indirect – Publication – newsletter Indirect – Publication – newspaper article Indirect – Radio program Indirect – Television segments Indirect – Web page Participants Business Assist Organization Staff (Adult) Economic Development Organization Staff (Adult) Community Organization Members or Staff (Adult) Small or Home-Based Business Owners – Current (Adult) Small or Home-Based Business Owners – Potential (Adult) Tourism Development Stakeholders (Adult) Inputs Collaborators To be announced Evaluation Plans
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Intentions For Short-Term Evaluation: An end-of-program evaluation will be administered to assess initial knowledge and skill changes and establish a baseline of planned practice changes. Quantitative and qualitative methods may be used to assess program impacts. Intentions For Medium-Term Evaluation: Approximately six-months after each program, an evaluation will be conducted to assess medium-term knowledge, skill, and practice changes and measure initial program impacts. Quantitative and qualitative methods may be used to assess program impacts. Intentions For Long-Term Evaluation: Approximately one-year after each program, an evaluation will be conducted to assess long-term knowledge, skill and practice changes and to measure program impacts. Quantitative and qualitative methods may be used to assess program impacts. Faculty and Professional Staff Involved: Staff Aide Support Staff Communications Staff Other Staff Other Inputs Materials and Funding Technology
Technology Staff
Volunteers
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