This is a great post by Albuquerque Tribune writer Gene Grant which shows the kind of impact that the Sirolli Institute, working in partnership with local communities and agencies can have - in this case on the City of Albuquerque and the wider State of New Mexico.
Of course since Ernesto did the key note at the conference a lot of other people have been involved - including the Sirolli Institute Implementation Team - and a whole bunch of quite remarkable local volunteers.
It just shows what can be done when people really embrace Enterprise Facilitation®.
Tuesday 29 May 2007
From Agricultural Production to Entrepreneurial Farming
Several years ago I travelled to Italy, my country of birth , to visit a region called Emilia-Romagna. I was there with a delegation of Canadian Government and Industry representatives wishing to take a look at a region which was attracting the attention of economists all over the World for its phenomenal economic growth.
In Emilia-Romagna, a region of 4 million people, there was one business for every 11 (eleven) people. On top of that, there were 7,900 cooperatives of which 2,400 operated in the rural sector.
Farmers market their produce together, process it in their own cooperative processing plants and finally own cooperative supermarket chains which operate both in Italy and throughout Europe. It seems that in Emilia- Romagna, farmers maintain control of their crops all the way from the fields to the market.
My visit there contrasted with what I experienced at a public meeting in a small country town in Western Australia. Prices had been depressed for years and the anger of farmers in that wheat-producing region had reached boiling point; guest speakers travelling there from the city were confronted by the sight of effigies of politicians being hung and burnt outside the Town Hall.
During the public meeting I made the remark that farmers should learn to add value to their products, but my comments were shouted down and I wasn’t able to explain what I meant. I remember one of the farmers becoming very agitated and saying: “The next bastard who comes from the city and tells me to add value to my crop I will shoot!”
I could not help but reflect on what makes the difference between farmers in Emilia-Romagna and farmers in Western Australia? Do they truly differ that much? Could it be that farmers in Emilia-Romagna started suffering earlier than those in Australia and have had the time to get over the anger to concentrate on survival?
History seems to confirm the latter hypothesis. Farming in Emilia-Romagna in the 1850s – 60s went through a catastrophic phase with so many rural people displaced that rural mutual aid societies were created at the grass roots to provide for widows and starving children. Out of that, and a century later, a rural sector has emerged which has put leadership and management talent at the service of both farmers and commerce. It has created a rural economy which is not only wealthy, it promotes, protects and represents the interests of those who work the land and produce the crops.
On the other hand, the farmers in Australia had it so good that they started to be concerned about prices only in the 1970’s and 80’s. Government-run Marketing Boards had lulled them into believing that the world would forever need their bulk wheat and greasy wool. Farmers became price takers...until price no longer covered costs!
The anger, the soul searching, is therefore recent and the solutions seem too hard and unpalatable. It took me some time. But I finally understood why that Western Australian farmer was so angry at my suggestion to learn to add value to his crop; in his eyes I was both arrogant and insensitive to rural needs and aspirations.
What he implied is that farmers have a dignity, a culture that we have to understand and respect. Many of them have deliberately chosen farming precisely because they don’t want to get mixed up in commerce, in marketing, in dealing with merchants and brokers. They simply want to farm beautifully and to provide an abundant harvest for their family, their country and the World.
They have earned respect for that, and should not be dismissed as non-value adders!
Yet prices are low, costs are high and farmers go to the wall every day while food corporations prosper and consumers scream for better and healthier food.
What can we do to help farmers?
Is there a way to transform production farming into entrepreneurial farming without offending and alienating the very farmers who need business advice so badly?
The solution, I believe, lies in only working with the farmers who ask for help and stop preaching to them.
And when they ask for help let them do what they love to do - but make sure that they find someone to work with in their business who loves to do the things that they hate.
In Emilia-Romagna, a region of 4 million people, there was one business for every 11 (eleven) people. On top of that, there were 7,900 cooperatives of which 2,400 operated in the rural sector.
Farmers market their produce together, process it in their own cooperative processing plants and finally own cooperative supermarket chains which operate both in Italy and throughout Europe. It seems that in Emilia- Romagna, farmers maintain control of their crops all the way from the fields to the market.
My visit there contrasted with what I experienced at a public meeting in a small country town in Western Australia. Prices had been depressed for years and the anger of farmers in that wheat-producing region had reached boiling point; guest speakers travelling there from the city were confronted by the sight of effigies of politicians being hung and burnt outside the Town Hall.
During the public meeting I made the remark that farmers should learn to add value to their products, but my comments were shouted down and I wasn’t able to explain what I meant. I remember one of the farmers becoming very agitated and saying: “The next bastard who comes from the city and tells me to add value to my crop I will shoot!”
I could not help but reflect on what makes the difference between farmers in Emilia-Romagna and farmers in Western Australia? Do they truly differ that much? Could it be that farmers in Emilia-Romagna started suffering earlier than those in Australia and have had the time to get over the anger to concentrate on survival?
History seems to confirm the latter hypothesis. Farming in Emilia-Romagna in the 1850s – 60s went through a catastrophic phase with so many rural people displaced that rural mutual aid societies were created at the grass roots to provide for widows and starving children. Out of that, and a century later, a rural sector has emerged which has put leadership and management talent at the service of both farmers and commerce. It has created a rural economy which is not only wealthy, it promotes, protects and represents the interests of those who work the land and produce the crops.
On the other hand, the farmers in Australia had it so good that they started to be concerned about prices only in the 1970’s and 80’s. Government-run Marketing Boards had lulled them into believing that the world would forever need their bulk wheat and greasy wool. Farmers became price takers...until price no longer covered costs!
The anger, the soul searching, is therefore recent and the solutions seem too hard and unpalatable. It took me some time. But I finally understood why that Western Australian farmer was so angry at my suggestion to learn to add value to his crop; in his eyes I was both arrogant and insensitive to rural needs and aspirations.
What he implied is that farmers have a dignity, a culture that we have to understand and respect. Many of them have deliberately chosen farming precisely because they don’t want to get mixed up in commerce, in marketing, in dealing with merchants and brokers. They simply want to farm beautifully and to provide an abundant harvest for their family, their country and the World.
They have earned respect for that, and should not be dismissed as non-value adders!
Yet prices are low, costs are high and farmers go to the wall every day while food corporations prosper and consumers scream for better and healthier food.
What can we do to help farmers?
Is there a way to transform production farming into entrepreneurial farming without offending and alienating the very farmers who need business advice so badly?
The solution, I believe, lies in only working with the farmers who ask for help and stop preaching to them.
And when they ask for help let them do what they love to do - but make sure that they find someone to work with in their business who loves to do the things that they hate.
Monday 28 May 2007
Community or Enterprise?
Over the last few months a number of people have said to me,
‘the trouble with Sirolli and Enterprise Facilitation® is that people have you in the wrong box’.
Half of the people go on to say,
‘They have you in the ‘Enterprise box’ and you are all about community development – you should be working with the community people.’
The other half say,
‘They have you in the ‘Community box’ and you are all about enterprise and entrepreneurship – you should be working with the enterprise people'.
We only go ‘where we are invited’ and sometimes we are invited by people interested in community development and sometimes we are invited by people interested in promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship.
It is worrying how difficult it can be to break down the barriers between these silos with public sector funders and planners.
It is encouraging that once working ‘on the ground’ with local people they soon recognise that these are two sides of the same coin – enterprise is a social phenomena and it thrives in effective communities.
‘the trouble with Sirolli and Enterprise Facilitation® is that people have you in the wrong box’.
Half of the people go on to say,
‘They have you in the ‘Enterprise box’ and you are all about community development – you should be working with the community people.’
The other half say,
‘They have you in the ‘Community box’ and you are all about enterprise and entrepreneurship – you should be working with the enterprise people'.
We only go ‘where we are invited’ and sometimes we are invited by people interested in community development and sometimes we are invited by people interested in promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship.
It is worrying how difficult it can be to break down the barriers between these silos with public sector funders and planners.
It is encouraging that once working ‘on the ground’ with local people they soon recognise that these are two sides of the same coin – enterprise is a social phenomena and it thrives in effective communities.
Thursday 17 May 2007
Beautiful Night in Bradford!
I have just got in from a magical night in Bradford. Over 40 members of the local community came together to elect the executive group that will see the Enterprise Facilitation project in Bradford move to its next phase.
Nancy and I were overwhelmed at the number of nominations that were put forward for election - and the number of people that were happy to offer their services.
They really have a great community led panel and should help the City enormously in the years to come.
It is great to have a new UK project out of the starting blocks! Congratulations to the new executive team and whole panel. And so many thanks to the steering group who have nurtured the project to this stage.
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Congratulations to Prizewinning PEER - The First Enterprise Facilitation Project in the UK
As part of the nationwide competition the NWDA, the Institute of Directors (IoD), Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Ethnic Minority Business Forum North West have searched the Northwest seeking the area that best demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit of the region.
Enterprise Facilitation in Rossendale has been managed for around 5 years now by a social enterprise called PEER - People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale. Working with the Sirolli Institute they have pioneered the practice of Enterprise Facilitation in the UK.
People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale (PEER) has won the regional heat of Enterprising Britain 2007. This year PEER has been awarded the Northwest honours for inspiring and empowering the local community to support local businesses and social enterprises set up and develop.
Winning the regional heat means that PEER is now eligible for a grant of up to £75,000 from the NWDA to further develop its enterprise activity. The organisation will now go forward to represent the Northwest in the national final of Enterprising Britain 2007, where the overall UK winner will be selected.
PEER and the 11 other regional winners will be visited by members of the judging panel over the summer, with the national winner being announced at an Awards event later in the year.
If you would like to find out more about the work of PEER and about the reality of making Enterprise Facilitation work in the UK we are holding an Open Day on July 3rd 2007.
In the mean time please join with us in congratulating Ronnie, Rob, David, Andy and the wonderful volunteers and entrepreneurs in Rossendale who have worked so hard to make Rossendale one of the most Enterprising communities in the UK.
Enterprise Facilitation in Rossendale has been managed for around 5 years now by a social enterprise called PEER - People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale. Working with the Sirolli Institute they have pioneered the practice of Enterprise Facilitation in the UK.
People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale (PEER) has won the regional heat of Enterprising Britain 2007. This year PEER has been awarded the Northwest honours for inspiring and empowering the local community to support local businesses and social enterprises set up and develop.
Winning the regional heat means that PEER is now eligible for a grant of up to £75,000 from the NWDA to further develop its enterprise activity. The organisation will now go forward to represent the Northwest in the national final of Enterprising Britain 2007, where the overall UK winner will be selected.
PEER and the 11 other regional winners will be visited by members of the judging panel over the summer, with the national winner being announced at an Awards event later in the year.
If you would like to find out more about the work of PEER and about the reality of making Enterprise Facilitation work in the UK we are holding an Open Day on July 3rd 2007.
In the mean time please join with us in congratulating Ronnie, Rob, David, Andy and the wonderful volunteers and entrepreneurs in Rossendale who have worked so hard to make Rossendale one of the most Enterprising communities in the UK.
Jigsaw Cities
At the book launch for Jigsaw Cities its author, Professor Anne Power and John Houghton, emphasised the importance of understanding cities as made up of a number of different jigsaw puzzle pieces with no picture on the cover to help put it all together. For physical regeneration there was discussion about renovating existing stock, using micro-spaces, and developing mixed use communities.
Why is it that the presumed starting point for regeneration is still physical - rather than psychological? In my experience it is when individuals find confidence and hope that a community can start to regenerate. It takes more than uPVC windows and doors to bring a community hope as this article by Sue Townsend so brilliantly illustrates.
Why is it that the presumed starting point for regeneration is still physical - rather than psychological? In my experience it is when individuals find confidence and hope that a community can start to regenerate. It takes more than uPVC windows and doors to bring a community hope as this article by Sue Townsend so brilliantly illustrates.
Monday 7 May 2007
Sirolli Institute Masterclass
The Spring 2007 Masterclass is well underway in San Francisco, with Facilitators being introduced to some new online tools.
These include the Online Forums and this Blog.
These include the Online Forums and this Blog.
Tuesday 1 May 2007
Good News from the State of Kansas!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2007
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Senator Derek Schmidt
(785) 296-2497
LEGISLATURE OKs ENTERPRISE FACILITATION FUNDING
TOPEKA -- (April 27, 2007) -- The legislature today gave final approval to legislation that will provide a reliable source of funding for a successful rural development program, sending the measure to the governor. She is expected to sign it into law.
“For our state’s least-developed counties, enterprise facilitation has proven to be a successful program in starting and nurturing new businesses,” said Senator Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, who sponsored the measure. “This will give some certainty to the enterprise facilitation projects so they can focus on doing their work instead of worrying whether they will be funded year-to-year.”
The new provision of law is included in legislation that extends the rural development tax credit program. The provision requires that 5 percent of the funds raised by sale of rural development tax credits statewide be distributed among the enterprise facilitation projects. If all tax credits are sold, that would generate $30,000 per year to help sustain each project, which is about half the total annual cost of running an enterprise facilitation program.
In Southeast Kansas, the Quad County Enterprise Facilitation project has helped nurture business start-ups and economic development in Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood and Woodson counties. Wilson and eastern Cowley counties also have participated in the project. The Quad County project has nurtured about 100 business startups since its inception.
April 27, 2007
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Senator Derek Schmidt
(785) 296-2497
LEGISLATURE OKs ENTERPRISE FACILITATION FUNDING
TOPEKA -- (April 27, 2007) -- The legislature today gave final approval to legislation that will provide a reliable source of funding for a successful rural development program, sending the measure to the governor. She is expected to sign it into law.
“For our state’s least-developed counties, enterprise facilitation has proven to be a successful program in starting and nurturing new businesses,” said Senator Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, who sponsored the measure. “This will give some certainty to the enterprise facilitation projects so they can focus on doing their work instead of worrying whether they will be funded year-to-year.”
The new provision of law is included in legislation that extends the rural development tax credit program. The provision requires that 5 percent of the funds raised by sale of rural development tax credits statewide be distributed among the enterprise facilitation projects. If all tax credits are sold, that would generate $30,000 per year to help sustain each project, which is about half the total annual cost of running an enterprise facilitation program.
In Southeast Kansas, the Quad County Enterprise Facilitation project has helped nurture business start-ups and economic development in Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood and Woodson counties. Wilson and eastern Cowley counties also have participated in the project. The Quad County project has nurtured about 100 business startups since its inception.
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