Release from University of Maine Cooperative Extension
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
5741 Libby Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5741
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2009
Contact: Tori Jackson, 207-353-5550, tjackson@umext.maine.edu
UMaine Extension Links Small Businesses Facing Tough Economic Times to Helpful On-Line Resources. Part 3: What eXtension can do for you!
With the economic complexion of communities across America changing, people are recognizing the growth of small and home-based business owners. Jim McConnon, University of Maine Extension Specialist, reports, “About 1 in 5 people in today’s Maine labor force are self-employed having 4 or fewer workers in their businesses.”
Do you need to find real answers in real time based on objective, research-based answers to your business questions? A new and evolving web-based tool to add to your resource toolkit is eXtension, available at www.eXtension.org. With it, you get those objective, reliable answers from experts in America’s largest and oldest university system – the land grant universities. The best and most up-to-date, 24-hour availability information is yours from any Internet connection.
With the surge in self-employment it might be easy to conclude that entrepreneurship is alive and well. But the reality is that entrepreneurs face a number of obstacles and challenges – including, but not limited to, tough economic times! Cathy Roberts, owner of Liberty-based Pieceworks, Inc. said, “I am interested in exploring new avenues to see if we can help each other through these uncertain times with economic success and optimism.” Whether you are starting a home-based business or hoping to diversify your small store front or farm, you’ll want to call your local Extension office or visit eXtension for a variety of ways to explore new avenues.
What do you get when you connect to the best and most innovative minds in American universities? While this article focuses on entrepreneurship and small and home-based business, information in other research and field-tested areas is also available such as care giving, disasters, dairy cattle, horses, parenting, personal finance, gardens, and more. You’ll have, at your finger tips:
• Customized answers to your specific needs
• Searchable knowledge bases and ‘ask the expert’ options
• Contact to over 3000 local Cooperative Extension offices
• Community-building features including blogs, online chats, and more.
How does eXtension work? It is built on the first-hand knowledge and practice of experts in a particular field of study. The information they gather from their own real-life research is transferred into the eXtension knowledge base. Keith Bodine, owner of Sweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery, knows well that local, home-based entrepreneurs who run a family business need to be prudent and tap into credible expertise in all business practices. He said, “(This is the time) to build on our strengths.” Tim Shown, owner of Fiddlehead Wood Arts, agreed, “Don’t let immediate opportunities slip past you.” He went on to caution, “Just don’t let the immediate opportunities overtake what you want to do and what is in the best interest of the long term (plan).” Staying on track with your short- and long-term business plan is easier to do when tapping into eXtension’s customized user tools that help you locate the information you need, when you need it:
• Basics – brief explanation or complete publications on a specific topic. Entrepreneurship information briefs include Creating a business image; Financial ratio; Insurance and risk management; The basics of marketing; Tracking sales; and more.
• News/calendars – timely updates and current topics. Articles posted already in January include: Techniques to improve your success at farmers’ market and Story marketing your farm. Articles posted in December included: Winter a great time to enjoy Agritourism opportunities and The little product that went to market
• FAQs/Ask the expert – lets users search by keyword or question; users can contact real-life, in the field experts for additional assistance. Scores of questions are currently posted and include: Does my business need a website? How long should a business plan be? What are technology business incubators? What can the public sector do to support entrepreneurship?
• On-line chats – experts host periodic online chats with users on current topics
• Webcasting/streaming videos – web conference/webinars and instructional videos are broadcast via streaming video and audio. Most are archived for later use. Upcoming webinars include (January) A real story about E-Commerce, (February) Formal and informal business planning using INVenture, (April) Tips and trick for successful farmers markets.
• Learning modules are prepackaged all-inclusive lessons that feature animation, interactive quizzes, audio, video and other learning devices to enhance user experience. One learning module available is Developing Entrepreneurs.
Created by Congress, land-grant universities study subjects relevant to everyday life. The university through Cooperative Extension sends professional educators across their states to bring the results of their research into every community, providing practical education people can use. University of Maine Cooperative Extension has sixteen offices located across our state staffed by educators willing to connect you to information. An additional bonus is that you can now you can benefit from this best information, on topics important to you from your computer. Click on the entrepreneurship link when your try it out for yourself at www.eXtension.org.
Research based information available on the web is an important component of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s small and home-based business program effort. Jane Haskell, Extension educator and producer of WERU’s monthly radio show, Doing Business, says, “All businesses, regardless of size or phase of business, need resources and be able to connect with other business owners and resource people. Being able to use Cooperative Extension’s expertise through eXtension is sure to help the growing base of entrepreneurs in our state.”
UMaine Extension small and home-based business education programs are open to all citizens and help Maine entrepreneurs improve their decision making and business management skills so their businesses can grow and prosper.
5741 Libby Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5741
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2009
Contact: Tori Jackson, 207-353-5550, tjackson@umext.maine.edu
UMaine Extension Links Small Businesses Facing Tough Economic Times to Helpful On-Line Resources. Part 3: What eXtension can do for you!
With the economic complexion of communities across America changing, people are recognizing the growth of small and home-based business owners. Jim McConnon, University of Maine Extension Specialist, reports, “About 1 in 5 people in today’s Maine labor force are self-employed having 4 or fewer workers in their businesses.”
Do you need to find real answers in real time based on objective, research-based answers to your business questions? A new and evolving web-based tool to add to your resource toolkit is eXtension, available at www.eXtension.org. With it, you get those objective, reliable answers from experts in America’s largest and oldest university system – the land grant universities. The best and most up-to-date, 24-hour availability information is yours from any Internet connection.
With the surge in self-employment it might be easy to conclude that entrepreneurship is alive and well. But the reality is that entrepreneurs face a number of obstacles and challenges – including, but not limited to, tough economic times! Cathy Roberts, owner of Liberty-based Pieceworks, Inc. said, “I am interested in exploring new avenues to see if we can help each other through these uncertain times with economic success and optimism.” Whether you are starting a home-based business or hoping to diversify your small store front or farm, you’ll want to call your local Extension office or visit eXtension for a variety of ways to explore new avenues.
What do you get when you connect to the best and most innovative minds in American universities? While this article focuses on entrepreneurship and small and home-based business, information in other research and field-tested areas is also available such as care giving, disasters, dairy cattle, horses, parenting, personal finance, gardens, and more. You’ll have, at your finger tips:
• Customized answers to your specific needs
• Searchable knowledge bases and ‘ask the expert’ options
• Contact to over 3000 local Cooperative Extension offices
• Community-building features including blogs, online chats, and more.
How does eXtension work? It is built on the first-hand knowledge and practice of experts in a particular field of study. The information they gather from their own real-life research is transferred into the eXtension knowledge base. Keith Bodine, owner of Sweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery, knows well that local, home-based entrepreneurs who run a family business need to be prudent and tap into credible expertise in all business practices. He said, “(This is the time) to build on our strengths.” Tim Shown, owner of Fiddlehead Wood Arts, agreed, “Don’t let immediate opportunities slip past you.” He went on to caution, “Just don’t let the immediate opportunities overtake what you want to do and what is in the best interest of the long term (plan).” Staying on track with your short- and long-term business plan is easier to do when tapping into eXtension’s customized user tools that help you locate the information you need, when you need it:
• Basics – brief explanation or complete publications on a specific topic. Entrepreneurship information briefs include Creating a business image; Financial ratio; Insurance and risk management; The basics of marketing; Tracking sales; and more.
• News/calendars – timely updates and current topics. Articles posted already in January include: Techniques to improve your success at farmers’ market and Story marketing your farm. Articles posted in December included: Winter a great time to enjoy Agritourism opportunities and The little product that went to market
• FAQs/Ask the expert – lets users search by keyword or question; users can contact real-life, in the field experts for additional assistance. Scores of questions are currently posted and include: Does my business need a website? How long should a business plan be? What are technology business incubators? What can the public sector do to support entrepreneurship?
• On-line chats – experts host periodic online chats with users on current topics
• Webcasting/streaming videos – web conference/webinars and instructional videos are broadcast via streaming video and audio. Most are archived for later use. Upcoming webinars include (January) A real story about E-Commerce, (February) Formal and informal business planning using INVenture, (April) Tips and trick for successful farmers markets.
• Learning modules are prepackaged all-inclusive lessons that feature animation, interactive quizzes, audio, video and other learning devices to enhance user experience. One learning module available is Developing Entrepreneurs.
Created by Congress, land-grant universities study subjects relevant to everyday life. The university through Cooperative Extension sends professional educators across their states to bring the results of their research into every community, providing practical education people can use. University of Maine Cooperative Extension has sixteen offices located across our state staffed by educators willing to connect you to information. An additional bonus is that you can now you can benefit from this best information, on topics important to you from your computer. Click on the entrepreneurship link when your try it out for yourself at www.eXtension.org.
Research based information available on the web is an important component of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s small and home-based business program effort. Jane Haskell, Extension educator and producer of WERU’s monthly radio show, Doing Business, says, “All businesses, regardless of size or phase of business, need resources and be able to connect with other business owners and resource people. Being able to use Cooperative Extension’s expertise through eXtension is sure to help the growing base of entrepreneurs in our state.”
UMaine Extension small and home-based business education programs are open to all citizens and help Maine entrepreneurs improve their decision making and business management skills so their businesses can grow and prosper.
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