Draft
Use "Enterprise Facilitators" to help individuals succeed with their own small business ideas. This is done through consultations to help them develop sound business management products, distribution, finances, and marketing. Enterprise facilitation helps motivated individuals but does not initiate, plan, finance, or subsidize projects.
Facilitate the creation of 30 new small business jobs a year in Moab.
This initiative touches on most of the Moab Business Alliance mission. It’s respectful of individuals, is adaptable and agile, and provides a healthy, collaborative approach to leadership.
The July 29 Times Independent front-page story is “This Business for Sale”. According to the TI, the trend in Moab for the last few years is a net loss of business. Here is what the newspaper had to say:
“Many of those county (business) “deaths” came when the business wasn’t even a year old, and might have been avoided if Moab’s small-business incubator was still available. The county now has access to a Small Business Administration counselor based in Blanding, which may help budding entrepreneurs avoid some common pitfalls, or avoid opening a business at all.”
There are many talented, under employed people in and around Moab. Many are just getting by because seasonal employment only lasts 4 or 5 months of the year. Some people enjoy the quiet winters here, but quiet also means people are broke much of the time.
There are already many successful economic development initiatives in Moab. These activities bring new businesses to town, help existing businesses expand, bring in training, help with business plan development, and help obtain capital. “Enterprise Facilitation” is a little different. Enterprise facilitation compliments traditional economic development. It is a client centered, management coaching method made available to self-motivated individuals with a workable business idea.
The most well known advocate of enterprise facilitation it the Sirolli Institute. One lender talking about the value of the process: “I view the local enterprise facilitator as a cheap employee who can help our bank determine where the new lending opportunities are.” Many of the Sirolli “Enterprise Facilitator” partnerships are in Kansas, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Here is what a small rural community, Creston, British Columbia, has accomplished:
“It has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of the board. All the board members have been enthusiastic and it is very gratifying to read the statistics each month of the number of individuals and businesses that are starting or expanding. I can't believe that 120 entrepreneurs, 40 new and expanded businesses and 84 jobs have been created or maintained in just the past 2 years in this small community.” -Sharon Brocklesby
Many of the Sirolli “Enterprise Facilitator” partnerships are in Kansas, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Here is what a small rural community, Creston, British Columbia, has accomplished:
“It has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of the board. All the board members have been enthusiastic and it is very gratifying to read the statistics each month of the number of individuals and businesses that are starting or expanding. I can't believe that 120 entrepreneurs, 40 new and expanded businesses and 84 jobs have been created or maintained in just the past 2 years in this small community.” -Sharon Brocklesby
The July 29 Times Independent front-page story is “This Business for Sale”. According to the TI, the trend in Moab for the last few years is a net loss of business. Here is what the newspaper had to say:
“Many of those county (business) “deaths” came when the business wasn’t even a year old, and might have been avoided if Moab’s small-business incubator was still available. The county now has access to a Small Business Administration counselor based in Blanding, which may help budding entrepreneurs avoid some common pitfalls, or avoid opening a business at all.”
There are many talented, under employed people in and around Moab. Many are just getting by because seasonal employment only lasts 4 or 5 months of the year. Some people enjoy the quiet winters here, but quiet also means people are broke much of the time. Moab’s experiences seasonal chaos - the quiet winters are achieved at a cost.