Income and business generation and enhancement are important goals of local economic development efforts. Communities often flourish when their businesses prosper and their citizens have jobs. On the other hand, communities with troubled economies often struggle. Penn State Cooperative Extension provides a range of educational programs that enable individuals, businesses, and economic development groups to achieve their goal of enhancing individuals and community welfare. Our primary educational objective in this area is to provide Pennsylvanians with the information, tools, and analysis that are critical for understanding and addressing the factors that encourage business and community success.

In accomplishing these objectives, we often work closely with local businesses. One major component of our programming provides businesses with a broad spectrum of educational opportunities, teaching business decision makers to conduct feasibility studies, write business plans, survey and identify target markets, develop promotional methods to attract customers from those target markets, and use cooperative business practices to buy needed products and services, as well as market their product(s). Accordingly, our audience is diverse, ranging from individuals exploring the possibility of starting a home-based venture, to long-term businesses and producers interested in diversifying their product offerings.

Of course, no business operates in a vacuum. Increased competition from abroad, the changing structure of industry and changes in consumer buying patterns are just some of the external factors that influence a community’s ability to generate income opportunities. Because of this, the viability of any particular business or industry often depends on economic trends at the regional, state and national levels. Recognizing that the economic success of Pennsylvania communities is strongly influenced by goings-on in the broader economy, a second major thrust of our programming focuses on enhancing business and community understanding of the economic environment in which they operate. Here our educational programming is multi-faceted. First, it helps businesses, communities and others identify factors that might hinder economic success, as well as ways of remedying these problems. Second, it helps communities identify potential areas for economic growth and suggests ways that individuals and communities can expand in these areas.

SUB POW: 5.H.1. Understanding the Effects of the Economic Climate on Local Business and Income Generation

Objective: 5.H.1.1. Clientele will be able will evaluate the business climate and develop action plans based on an increased knowledge of important demographic, economic, and industry trends at the local, state and national levels.

1. Number of program participants.
2. Number of new local development plans and programs founded in the context of economic trends at the regional, state and national levels.

SUB POW: 5.H.2. Entrepreneurship Education

Objective: 5.H.2.1. Clients will master the skills needed to complete a business startup feasibility study that results in a practical business plan, reflecting personal, family, and group income generation and self-fulfillment goals, and providing a realistic picture of the character and likely success of the new business.

1. Number of program participants.
2. Number of individuals and groups interested in business startup who perform a study of their own and household attitudes and expectations to determine the degree to which the new venture will meet their needs.

Objective: 5.H.2.2. Entrepreneurs will be able to identify and apply basic business principles necessary to effectively operate a small business.

1. Number of program participants.
2. Number of individuals involved in entrepreneurship education activities who can identify a target market and develop a strategic marketing plan to effectively promote a product or service needed by that population segment.