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MyBiz Entrepreneur Network

MyBiz Entrepreneur Network is a network of agencies, non-profit and resource providers committed to improving opportunities for citizens of Mississippi and Alabama to start, own, and expand businesses.  The Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor, Governor Bob Riley, and Governor Haley Barbour have been key supporters in the start-up of the MyBiz program. 

MyBiz is a product of the West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development demonstration funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.  The Montgomery Institute, a regional leadership development non-profit in Meridian, MS, serves as the program manager for WAEM WIRED and was the developer of the MyBiz program.

This program seeks to provide a comprehensive approach to connecting entrepreneurs, communities and service providers into a system of support for seeding and growing entrepreneurs in Alabama and Mississippi.  The MyBiz program is composed of three main components:  MyBiz.am, community connections, and the MyBiz Entrepreneur Network.

The website, MyBiz.am, provides a gateway to local, regional, and global services and connectivity among entrepreneurs, service providers, communities, community colleges, entrepreneur coaches and mentors.  Connections include:

  • Links to Small Business Development Centers and to community college entrepreneur training programs.
  • Links to state and federal (SBA) grant programs and points of contact for more information.
  • Links to community information about licensing, taxes, permitting and regulations.
  • Links to steps and decisions common to most start up businesses.
  • Links to other tools and resources that can assist entrepreneurs to build and grow their enterprise.

MyBiz.am provides value to entrepreneurs saving them time and money and better equipping them to successfully build sustainable and profitable enterprises.

MyBiz.am provides communities tools to support their local entrepreneurs.  Included are:

  • Physical and virtual "Start It" cards displaying community points-of-contact for licensing, permitting, tax information and local regulations.
  • Contact information for local libraries.  
  • A resource directory of state and federal economic development allies.

These tools help communities demonstrate commitment to local entrepreneurs and in turn, help entrepreneurs save time, energy and money as they step through the enterprise start up process.

MyBiz enhances regional and statewide "systems of support" for entrepreneurs. Through MyBiz.am, the Resource Navigator and Resource Directory provide intelligent and logical displays of service providers (Resource Partners) who are part of the MyBiz Entrepreneur Network.  The navigator sorts providers by types of service.  The directory lists providers alphabetically.  MyBiz.am provides succinct descriptions of Resource Partner services, contact information, and office location using "Google-Map" services.  The MyBiz Training-Events Calendar displays Resource Partner training classes and events for entrepreneurs.

The MyBiz Entrepreneur Network fosters collaboration among Resource Partners, building a more robust system of support for entrepreneurs.

Eight community and junior colleges joined with The Montgomery Institute to develop and pilot the MyBiz program.  These colleges were 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, including Itawamba Community College, are participating in phase 1 which is expanding Maybes to the entire state.  Itawamba was assigned ten (10) towns, namely:  Guntown, Sherman, Toccopola, Plantersville, Nettleton, Shannon, Verona, Okolona, Woodland and New Houlka.   Phase 2 of the program was funded through WIA funds and each community college will be assigned additional towns and communities throughout each one of their districts.

Debi Martin
Workforce Specialist/MyBiz
Office: 662.620.5072
Email: jdmartin@iccms.edu