The Rural Development Resource Center (RDRC) is offering a free business plan writing workshop to assist anyone considering getting into the aronia berry industry. The workshop will be offered from 9:00am- 3:00 pm on Saturday May 2nd at the Mills County Extension office in Malvern.
In addition to discussion on the market plan, participants will be given materials to begin writing their plan and receive one-on-one assistance from the RDRC’s business development specialist.
The following topics will be covered that day:
• Defining your product and how you will promote it
• Identifying who will purchase your product
• Analyze your competition
• Distribution and pricing
The workshop is free for individuals within the RDRC service area which includes: Adair, Adams, Audubon, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Crawford, Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor and Union Counties.
The Rural Development Resource Center's goal is to promote economic growth in Southwest Iowa by providing training, tools and resources to new and existing entrepreneurs. Services include full business training, conducting feasibility studies, writing business plans, preparing financial projections, marketing plans, organizational structure, and securing funding. It is a program of Grow Iowa Foundation, Inc. a nonprofit with a mission of rural development. The Southwest Iowa Coalition, Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development and Iowa State University Extension to Community Economic Development are the primary partners collaborating to design and support the initiative. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Contact the RDRC at 712-623-5521, or visit the website www.EnterprisingIowans.com.