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ABOUT
US
The MyBiz Alabama-Mississippi Network (MyBizAM) is a network of agencies,
non-profits, and resource providers committed to improving opportunities for
citizens in Alabama and Mississippi to start, own, and expand businesses.
MyBizAM originated as a product of the West Alabama – East Mississippi Workforce
Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WAEM WIRED) demonstration
funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Today, MyBizAM serves all of Mississippi and much of Alabama.
MyBizAM seeks to connect entrepreneurs, communities and service providers
into a system of support for seeding and growing entrepreneurs in Alabama and
Mississippi. It consists of four main components: the MyBiz.am
website, the Resource Navigator and other tools, Community Connections and
Start It! Cards, and the MyBizAM Network.
MyBiz.AM
MyBiz.AM provides a gateway to local, regional, and
global services and connectivity among entrepreneurs, service providers,
communities, community colleges, entrepreneur coaches and mentors. Niche
Enterprises provide information and links to unique types of entrepreneurship.
Blogs provided by experts address issues of current interest. New articles
provide useful information to entrepreneurs.
The buttons Have An Idea, Ready to Start, and Want to
Grow link to pages providing “how to” advice to entrepreneurs. Links to
libraries, resources providers, and community support can be found by clicking
on the Tools buttons.
Resource
Navigator
A unique tool developed by KC Sourcelink, the Resource
Navigator sorts resource providers by by zip codes and types of service to help
entrepreneurs find the nearest providers who can meet their needs. The Resource
Navigator also provides Google maps, web links, and contact information.
Use the Resource Navigator to find your nearest Small Business
Development Center, university or community college program, or community-based
support provider. A complete listing can be found at the Resource Directory
button.
The Community Connections button provides access to community partners in
MyBizAM and their Start It! Cards.
The Resource Library provides access to MyBizAM documents, links to
development and business support organizations in both states, entrepreneur
toolkits, and public libraries.
Community
Connections
MyBizAM provides communities tools to support local
entrepreneurs. Included are:
- “Start It!” Cards
displaying community points-of-contact for utilities, licensing, permitting,
tax information and local regulations. Physical Start It! Cards are
distributed in each community. Virtual
Start It! Cards are displayed on MyBiz.AM.
- Contact information for community entrepreneur
champions.
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Links to MyBiz.AM and local support organizations.
These tools help communities demonstrate commitment to local
entrepreneurs and, in turn, help entrepreneurs access help and support.
MyBiz
Alabama-Mississippi Network
MyBizAM adds new network partners almost every
day.
Key partners in
the MyBizAM are community and junior colleges.
Eight joined with The Montgomery Institute to develop and pilot MyBizAM: Alabama Southern, Bevill State, Shelton
State, and Wallace – Selma in Alabama, and East Central, East Mississippi,
Jones County, and Meridian in Mississippi. Together, these partners
developed the Start It! Cards, visited 146 communities, recruited Community
Connectors and entrepreneur champions, and identified Resource Partners.
The other 11 community colleges in Mississippi have now extended MyBizAM to communities
throughout the state. Project LEARN operated by the University of
Alabama is building out MyBizAM through parts of Alabama.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Governor Haley Barbour, Governor Bob Riley,
the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Employment
Security, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the
University of Alabama, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Small
Business Administration have been key supporters in the start-up of the MyBizAM
program.
The Montgomery Institute, a regional leadership development non-profit in
Meridian, MS, manages the MyBizAM program.
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