The Hannah Grimes Center Industry Cluster Project
In the 2007 State New Economy Index, the Kauffman Foundation recommends supporting industry clusters and reorganizing programs around these clusters. The Kauffman Foundation found that “in regional economies, the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts.” As a result, we are currently developing targeted programming focusing on the productivity and innovation of regional small business owners from four industry clusters: agriculture, artisans and small producers, construction, and independent retail.
For each industry, we will compile monthly e-newsletters, identify partners/service providers, create a focus group and produce an industry resources brochure. An archive of our industry cluster e-newsletters is at: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs091/1101344649141/archive/1102400551253.html.
Our goals for this project are:
1. Strengthen our connections with individuals, businesses and associations in each industry cluster to understand their needs and look for opportunities to collaborate.
2. Become the regional resource for these clusters by compiling and disseminating existing information and services (we have piloted this successfully with an e-newsletter for agriculture).
3. Identify the gaps in services and begin to develop programs that will help make these businesses more innovative and productive.
4. Increase the wages offered by small business owners in these industry clusters.
Focus Groups
Farmer Focus Group: February 11, 2010
In this discussion, farmers were the educators. This focus group was designed to provide a safe space for one group of farmers (aspiring, beginning and established) to talk candidly about their experience, and the kinds of services that they believe can contribute to the success of all farmers. The forum was also designed to give service providers the opportunity to listen, observe and learn. Finally, we hope the forum will encourage creativity and problem-solving.
We asked farmers a series of questions relating to their farm as a business - all farmers were encouraged to share while service providers listened. Farm Focus Notes.
