MyBiz Helps Communities Grow Entrepreneurs
Penny Hawks Frazier, owner of Penny’s Pantry in Senatobia, could have benefited from a program like MyBiz, she said in a presentation on April 22 at the Haraway Center at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Frazier and about 25 others, including city and county officials and economic development officials, heard a presentation on MyBiz and its growing impact in Mississippi and Alabama. The luncheon event was hosted by Northwest’s Workforce Development Center.

Frazier has owned and operated her business for eight years. Like most budding entrepreneurs, she had an idea that she thought would work. “I loved to cook and had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I had no idea about bookkeeping, taxes, payroll and things like that. There was no avenue for the ABC’s of opening your business,” Frazier said. “I would have loved a program like this when I was starting up.”

Dr. Lyn Stabler,vice president for policy and analysis at the Mississippi Technology Alliance, and Chris B. Reed, director of Entrepreneurship Development Programs at the Montgomery Institute, gave a presentation to “roll-out” the MyBiz program in North Mississippi.

MyBiz strives to connect entrepreneurs, communities and service providers into a system of support for starting and growing entrepreneurs in Mississippi and Alabama. It is a program of the West Alabama/East Mississippi (WAEM) Regional Initiative and the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration WIRED (Workforce Innovations Regional Economic Development) Grant. “Our goal is to build resources for entrepreneurship all over Mississippi,” said Stabler. She outlined the need for entrepreneurship and innovative ideas in today’s global economy.

Reed introduced MyBiz.am, a Web site designed to blend a number of virtual services, information and resources for entrepreneurs to help make starting and building their businesses easier.
For example, local entrepreneurs can find points of contact for licensing, permitting, tax information and local regulations, saving them money in the start up or growing process. It also enables community and junior colleges to have an on-line location to list their classes, training, events, and other activities that assist entrepreneurs. Reed said the the Web site is still in development. “This is about working together and getting resources out there for all entrepreneurs,” Reed said.

Joyce Brasell, director of Northwest Workforce Planning and Development, expressed appreciation for all who attended the event. “Northwest is very excited to be a part of the statewide MyBiz entrepreneurial project. The communities in our service area are enthusiastic about the assistance that Northwest will give in building a list of resources specific to entrepreneurs in each community,” Brasell said.

Penny Hawks Frazier, owner of Penny’s Pantry in Senatobia, spoke at the MyBiz Roll-out luncheon at Northwest Mississippi Community College on April 22. The statewide program strives to support entrepreneurship in Mississippi by providing resources such as information and mentors for those wanting to start or grow a business.