University of Wisconsin - Extension

Are you considering a new "value added" agricultural venture? Thinking of expanding your current agricultural business? Are lenders or potential investors demanding to see your business plan? If so, a new training and counseling program will be launched in early 2005 to support your efforts.

The Agricultural Innovation Center, a collaborative project among the University of Wisconsin Extension, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Technical College System, will support agricultural venture growth in Wisconsin. The Center will provide one-on-one assistance, training, business referrals to boost growth of agricultural businesses and industries. The Center has 26 Agricultural Innovation Counselors.

"The AIC will bolster the development support for entrepreneurial business growth in Wisconsin agriculture, making a win-win for farmers, other ag entrepreneurs and the state's economy as part of Governor Doyle's Grow Wisconsin efforts" said Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Starting in January, the Center will offer eight- to ten-week business planning and management courses around the state. Agricultural Innovation Counselors, with help from Small Business Development Center staff, bankers, lawyers, accountants, insurance agents and others, will teach the courses.

"These hands-on training courses are nationally proven to improve business start-up success rates and improve existing business performance," says Greg Wise, who will co-direct the center with fellow UW-Extension specialist Greg Lawless.

"It's a logical, progressive way for us to help agricultural entrepreneurs assess the feasibility of their business ideas and potential markets," Paul Dietman, Sauk County UW-Extension agriculture agent and a center counselor, said.

Courses begin at several locations around the state at the end of January, and seating is limited. The fee for the business planning course will be $1,000; but a rebate funded by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce will cover all but $250 for all participants who complete their business plans within three months after the course ends.

The Center will develop initiatives to foster new ventures in food and the emerging bio-industries of energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials for which Wisconsin can develop an advantage. "Part of the future of agriculture is to help entrepreneurs develop new products from biological resources," Arlen Leholm, dean and director of UW-Extension, Cooperative Extension, said.

In addition, it will encourage investor networks bring new capital to entrepreneurs to support development and innovation across agriculture. The center is a key element of the new Wisconsin Entrepreneur's Network, which strengthens Wisconsin's support of entrepreneurship across all sectors.

"Training employees and bringing new technologies to bear in processing and manufacturing will be vital to support a growing ag economy and the center partnership will help deliver that," said Jim Gibson of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

For more information on the Agricultural Innovations Center and to contact Innovation Counselors, visit http://aic.uwex.edu or contact Greg Lawless at 608-265-2903