Transcript Building Bridges: Linking Community Colleges and Community

November 15, 2010
Presenter: Malinda Todd and
Arlene Childers
NC REAL
REAL Entrepreneurship is an
entrepreneurship education
program that helps youth and
adults grow through hands-on
entrepreneurship education.
REAL teaches individuals
entrepreneurial and business
skills that help build
community and economic
development.
Experiential Learning Cycle
“Tell me, and I forget,
Show me, and I remember,
Involve me, and I understand.”
Application
Expansion
Experience
Reflection
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Who is the target market for you business?
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What marketing strategies will you use to reach
your market?
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Funded by N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund
Includes counties in the northeastern NC that are
historically tobacco dependent
Regional partner is Upper Coastal Plain Council
of Government
Education partners are Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash,
Halifax and Martin Community Colleges
Outreach partners include the Cooperative
Extension Agencies for the region
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Develop REAL Ag-Entrepreneurship Course
Train REAL facilitators in the AgEntrepreneurship Course
Recruit current and aspiring farmers to take part
in the course
Teach and support farmers in business planning
and entrepreneurship
Follow-up with farmers to evaluate progess
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Created an advisory team of experts in agriculture
and entrepreneurship education
Worked with team to select which areas needed
specialized curriculum
Worked with team to collect reliable, wellregarded resources
REAL facilitators and staff developed curriculum
with advice of team
Curriculum tested in Spring of 2010
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Met with Cooperative Extension Agents in the
region to present the project and solicit advice
Provided reports to regional Entrepreneurial
Network
Met with Community College Small Business
Center Directors to set up courses through the
colleges
Small Business Centers also helped promote the
program and provide support to students
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Worked with Cooperative Extension to hold AgEntrepreneurship Expos throughout the region
Marketed through Farmers Market networks
Held Expos to provide information about small
business resources, marketing advice and
provided a preview for 8-week course
Provided scholarships for tobacco affected farmers
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9 Units including entrepreneurial assessment,
feasibility, financials, marketing, operations, and
the overall business plan
Some activities were adapted from the REAL
Curriculum
All new activities were developed for site
feasibility, marketing, financials– including
enterprise budgets
Developed to be a 24-30 hour course, but activities
could be incorporate into a longer course
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Trained 46 REAL Facilitators across the state, 9 in
Upper Coastal Plain Region
78 Individuals attended Ag-Entrepreneurship
Expos
18 Individuals participated in 8-week business
planning course
At least three 8-week courses are planned for the
winter 2010-2011 in the region
Secured funding from Appalachian Regional
Commission to expand to Western NC
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Foothills Connect Business and Technology Center
on the other end of the state is replicating their
program connecting farmers to restaurants. They
plan to use the REAL program for their
participants
Rural Advancement Foundation International
provides support and grants to farmers
throughout the state. They will now encourage
their clients to attend classes in their areas.
Local restaurateur is encouraging his suppliers to
attend the class
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Expos worked, but not
enough
Farmers Markets
Libraries
Farm Bureau
Farm Credit
Churches
Health clinics
Farming Supply Stores
Auctions
MORE!
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Connected students to Community Colleges’
Small Business Centers and other college
resources
Used curriculum advisory board to create a list of
recommended materials and tools– helped deal
with information overload
Encouraged every class to bring in an expert
speaker that is relevant to the class
When possible, connected students to local
markets
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Held Expos at the Cooperative Extension Offices
and the Farmers’ Markets
Carried out sample activity at the Expos to
introduce the class
Carried out communication by mail and phone—
did not assume internet capabilities
Brought in local speakers
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With help of advisory team, adapted current
activities to have farm examples
Developed new activities to fit the special needs of
farm businesses– especially financials and
marketing
Focused on making all activities experiential and
non-intimidating
Sample REAL Activity: Selling at the Farmers’
Market
Look for as many partners as possible,
sometimes in unlikely places
Recruitment, Recruitment, Recruitment
Connect Students to Resources
Create a welcoming, non-intimidating
program through careful choice of
location, curriculum, activities and
speakers
Create activities that are relevant and
fun
Arlene Childers
Assistant Director
NC REAL Enterprises
4168 Oak Hollow Dr.
Morganton, NC 28655
phone: 919-491-7572
[email protected]
Malinda Todd
Associate Director
NC REAL Enterprises
3739 National Dr., Suite 110
Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: 919-781-6833 x126
[email protected]