Project Overview
The project established an advisory committee of producers, entrepreneurs, and educators to help format and create a comprehensive workshop series addressing risk management topics for beginning entrepreneurs in the areas of local food, small farms, and other rural and food-related enterprises. The workshops were marketed to participants in previous agricultural programs offered in the area. In order to deliver the workshops, the project leveraged resources of John Wood Community College, Spoon River College, University of Illinois Extension, and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University. To serve a wide population of Western Illinois residents, the workshops were offered in Quincy and Canton. As a result of the advisory committee´s input, the project´s 12 workshops addressed business planning and startup, fiscal management, marketing, legal risk, as well as regulations associated with specific agricultural ventures and value-added products. Workshops also included accounts of business startup and success from local food producers. Presenters included University of Illinois Extension educators, IL SBDC educators, successful entrepreneurs, representatives from agencies involved in economic development, and marketing and business software experts. JWCC developed a companion website as a reference for participants and other producers, which includes resources and material from many of the workshops.
Number of Participants: 112
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
There are no educational materials available for this project.
REPORTS & EVALUATIONS
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.