Disregard Above This Line

Section 6

Action Planning  – Community Economic Development

Launching a set of pilot projects is the last, but most important task you will face. Based upon the foundational work you’ve done with the Mobilizer’s Handbook, the Alliance Handbook, the Handbook to Generate Wealth, and Business & Economic Development Field Guide, its now time to mobilize for action and put an Action Plan in place. Here are some of the key issues to address:

• Strategy – Right place to start, building on the right strengths, Driving forces in place, Opportunity has leverage, Success Factors in Place
• Vision & Plan Co-Created – Vision and Value Proposition is strong and presents clear value
• Market is tested, Sales process in place
• Leadership & Champions Committed
• Chemistry & Trust
• Team Created to Implement
• Operational Implementation Plan & Coordination
• Support Systems in Place, Breakdown Points thought through
• Culture of Cooperation – Guiding Principles for the business
• Pilot Project Highly Visible – Easy to launch, will trigger further success
• Publicity for Launch
• Appendix: Guidelines for Creating Miracles
• People Support What They Help Create
• Find a Champion before launching
• Support the Champions
• Build Trust
• Win-Win is Essential
• Economics is an Organic System

Section 7

Small Business & Micro-Enterprise Development

Your work will probably also involve issues of setting up Micro-Finance groups (refer back to the Handbook to Generate Wealth ) and helping entrepreneurs launch small businesses.

Prior to launching micro-enterprises, it may be advisable to build local capability for people who have never engaged in business before. Setting up a training program in the basics micro-enterprise might be extremely valuable. Without building local business capability, there is a high likelihood that those people establishing business enterprise will not have the skills and insights necessary to make effective decisions. If the local entrepreneurs are supportive, then create a skills training program using the Micro-Enterprise Training program.

Part of the Micro-Enterprise training will have local entrepreneurs creating a business plan. But writing a plan may be a very tedious and thankless task for the small entrepreneur. Every business plan must be tailored to the local conditions, which the previous foundation building should have provided. If you find that you need assistance incorporating  some things that may  be included in business planning, you may wish to review  Model Business Plan for an American business, but be sure to make all the adjustments needed to make it work in the community you are serving.

Section 8

Evaluation & Monitoring

Every team will want to know how well their project is working, and collect the learnings from their work to pass along to others. The Handbook for Evaluation is a very valuable tool. We recommend you give this book a review before you start the project, then, once things are underway, you scrutinize your actions to learn and do better.

You will also want to complete the Saddleback Peace Trip Assessment Form so that your learnings can be used by others who will follow you.

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