TO: Local Entrepreneurs and Small Business Leaders

Do you face some of these challenges?

Accessing the capital you need to grow? Managing staff size, space, working capital, etc. through spikes and dips in your business volume? Getting pulled away from what you do best to manage aspects of your business that dont use your core competencies? Finding support networks that understand the challenges unique to your business model, path and market? Then come join in a conversation underway right now to find innovative, communitybased solutions.

We invite you to participate in our study!

We aim to identify the unique needs of our local business community and the best ways we as a community can address those needs. To frame the discussion, we are speaking with a select group of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Our research team will then use this framework to conduct a survey of local small businesses, microenterprises and entrepreneurs.

The WHAT and WHY:

Did you know that if 1 out of every 3 microenterprises hired just one new employee, the U.S. would achieve full employment? Yet, the focus has historically been on building high-tech and big businesses. Recognizing this, the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development has funded a study to give us a chance to explore how we - as a community of entrepreneurs, small business owners and local investors - can take charge of our local economy and grow.

If you can participate, want to learn more, or are interested in hearing the insights offered by other business leaders, please contact us!
Jessica Meissner
The Shed, BEC T: 734.272.1392

Joanna Rosene-Mirvis
The Shed

The WHY:
Especially since the economic downturn, communities everywhere are recognizing the

Business & Employment Cooperative

Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development E: rosenemirvis@ewashtenaw.org