Small Business
A Basic Foundation for Community Development
Community development is a partnership between small businesses and local governments.
development workshops and other programs.
Small businesses are the foundation of the American economy, accounting for 65 percent of net new jobs and 44 percent of U.S. private payroll between 1993 and 2009. The responsibility of local governments includes providing public services, infrastructure, public education, and promoting a business environment that fosters job creation and the delivery of retail goods and services to its citizens. Small businesses provide goods and services to consumers and create jobs in the process. Local governments and small businesses must both expend their available revenue and resources as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. Government entities are responsible for prudent management of public assets, while businesses seek to make a reasonable profit to continue their operations. Effective local government and profitable small businesses working together are essential components of society. Both need informed, progressive individuals with the knowledge, vision, and determination to compete successfully in a fast-paced and constantly changing economic environment.
The MSU-ES Center for Government and Community Development works through local Extension Service offices to provide assistance to Mississippi’s counties and municipalities to identify and improve the assets in their community that are essential for industrial and retail business recruitment, retention, and expansion. The GCD also provides counseling, training, and assistance to start-up and existing small businesses and works with regional planning and development district offices (PDDs), the Mississippi Development Authority, the MSU Department of Agricultural Economics, and other MSU departments to identify and promote potential areas for growth and opportunity in local communities. The goal of the center is to provide knowledge based resources to local governments and businesses that will enable them to build a prosperous and sustainable economy.
The MSU Extension Service, through its training and outreach, is committed to fulfilling the university’s mission as a land-grant institution to provide learning, research, and service to the State of Mississippi and to the advancement of initiatives that serve the public interest and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Available Workshops and Presentations
- "The Basics" Small Business Workshop
(Introductory Information for Start-up and Existing Small Businesses) - Principal Sources of Revenue for Local Governments in Mississippi
(A Comparison with Neighboring States) - Access to Capital - Funding and Financing for Local Foods
A workshop outlining the many options for gaining access to funding and financing for small farm based business, value added agricultural operation, and local foods initiatives such as farmers markets or special events. Potential topics include grant writing, funding opportunities, financing, budgeting, agricultural policy, crowdsourcing, and many more.
For more information or to schedule a program, contact:
Hamp Beatty
(662) 325-3141
h.beatty@msstate.edu
Publications
News
Many small business owners temporarily closed their doors and sent their employees home amid efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. But that does not mean they are closed for business.
Thanks to technology, meetings still can be held face-to-face while practicing social distancing, and some tips from the pros can help make the transition easier.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service Center for Technology Outreach has provided technological support for remote learning for more than 20 years. Advances in technology make it faster, easier and possible from home.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi women who want to grow their farm and agribusiness skills are invited to an upcoming conference in Starkville.
“Small Farm Success in a Global Market,” the 2020 conference of the Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization, will be held March 6 and 7 in the Bost Extension Center on the Mississippi State University campus. Mississippi Women for Agriculture is organized through the MSU Extension Service and provides information and education to help female agribusiness employees and owners build skills.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Experts from the Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer a workshop designed to help food-related business owners prepare for disasters.
“Food as a Business: Disaster Preparedness for Food Businesses” is for anyone who currently operates or is interested in operating an agriculture-based food business, including retail, cottage food or food processing operations.
Topics include financial preparedness, risk management, record keeping, crisis communication planning, emergency-action planning and food recall and traceability planning.
Almost 10 percent of Mississippi’s $11 billion in annual exports are agricultural products, and Mississippi State University Extension Service experts are working to see that amount increase.
Success Stories
Extension helps small businesses with safety consultation services
Small businesses in Mississippi can face workplace safety challenges with the help of a trusted partner.
A group of safety and health experts with the Mississippi State University Extension Service offers a range of free, confidential safety and health consultation services to small businesses with as many as 250 on-site employees and fewer than 500 corporate-wide employees.
When retired teacher Billy Tigrett retired for the second time from Walmart, he gave some thought to living off his retirement, social security, and 401K.
He didn’t think about it long.