Purdue Extension expanding economic development efforts

By Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture

Purdue Extension's efforts to help farmers add value to their operations and reach out to employers and entrepreneurs who want to become more business savvy have resulted in many individual success stories. At the same time, we are taking a broader view of the state's economic environment and helping communities identify and capitalize on regional opportunities.

Among the efforts underway:

• Purdue's New Ventures Team is a group of Purdue Extension specialists and educators across the state dedicated to providing producers and business owners with one-on-one contact through all stages of business development.
• The Agricultural Innovation and Commercialization Center provides answers to questions about how to get more value from your business. AICC offers INVenture, a free, online business-planning tool to help entrepreneurs get started.
• The Purdue Extension Means Business Web site contains articles, links and more than 25 publications on business basics for those who want to learn more about how to do business better.

Total economic development mean more than just business development. It also means creating strong, vibrant communities with a high quality of life and educational opportunities. Our world is changing, and we will evolve with it to meet the new challenges of our citizens and all of Indiana.

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