Best Practice Team:
Christine Jensen, Emery County Extension;
Gary Anderson, Sanpete County Extension;
Julie Ingersoll, Kane County Extension;
Jody Gale, Sevier County Extension;
Jolene Johnson, Millard County Extension;
SuzAnne Jorgensen, Garfield County Extension; and,
Anita Raddatz, Sanpete County Extension
Two years ago when Noelle Cockett was appointed Vice President for Extension at Utah State University, officials from the Governor’s Office for Economic Development (GOED) and Governor’s Rural Partnership Board (GRPB) approached her with the suggestion and challenge that USU Extension become more involved in local economic development throughout the state. One important part of Extension’s response to this challenge was to develop an Extension Entrepreneurial and Business Initiative that among other things created a Best Practice Team comprised of volunteer agents willing to actively work with local county partners to help organize and facilitate entrepreneurial and business development activities that encouraged and supported county and community development interests and plans.
During the past two years, Best Practice Team members have served on economic development boards, organized county-wide economic development conferences, planned and delivered e-commerce and home-based business workshops, submitted proposals for additional program funding, and organized youth and community entrepreneurship programs. Perhaps the most notable accomplishment of this team has been to help develop Business Outreach Support Services (BOSS) and a BOSS Toolkit that provides early assessment of entrepreneurs’ business ideas and timely subsequent referrals to SBDC counselors and other technical resources for more in-depth assistance. These business outreach services and toolkit materials are now being rolled out and used by extension agents, chambers of commerce, and county economic development directors around the state.