A conference held in September 2000 focused on entrepreneurship as a means to create more and better jobs in Appalachia and rural America. This report summarizes the conference proceedings. In part 1, successful rural entrepreneurs identify their challenges and needs. Entrepreneurial success requires a supportive community environment, diverse…

In today's cut-throat economic climate, companies have to look more than ever for new ways of operating efficiently. When a company looks for ways of reducing its fixed expenditure it is inevitable that long-term investments, such as the budget allocated for training, will come under scrutiny first. As companies become leaner, and budgets become…

This document highlights a congressional hearing on expanding the debate on education to involve small businesses as active participants. Opening statements of the following three United States (U.S.) senators are provided: Christopher S. Bond, John F. Kerry, and Olympia J. Snow. Testimony includes witness testimony, prepared statements, and other…

Small and mid-sized companies provide substantial opportunities for many U.S. workers. The nature of work and the culture of workplaces are changing as dramatically as the employment statistics. A company's success or failure may ride on the knowledge and skills of a handful of employees. Employees in small and mid-sized companies--both highly…

The hometown of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has created the Blacksburg Electronic Village, a community-based computer network linking businesses, schools, and individual community members. The university, telephone company, and town established the system collaboratively in 1992, and additional grants have come to the…

A Hopi-owned and operated solar energy company develops energy independence for various American Indian tribes in the Southwest and creates jobs on the reservation while staying true to the Hopi holistic world view. The company holds hands-on workshops to educate visitors, customers, and secondary students on how solar electric facilities work,…

New information about interorganizational collaboratives for job training and economic development was obtained through case studies analyzing six organizations with innovative job creation practices including (1) assistance to small businesses; and (2) benefits to low-income, hard-to-place workers. (SLD)

Presents an argument against Pyong Gap Min's interpretations of the author's views on Korean immigrant entrepreneurship in Los Angeles (California). Addresses the issues of empirical accuracy and policy implications that Min criticized. Discusses differences between Min's approach to social knowledge and her own. (JS)

This article describes a venture which resulted in publication of an anthology of poems and illustrations by elementary-level gifted students. The book was copyrighted, printed, and sold by a legal publishing company run by students as a professional enterprise. Guidelines for organizing such projects are offered, and experiences from this and…

Discusses the issues surrounding Virginia's need for training classes in the areas of small business management and entrepreneurship. Finds an apparent lack of communication between businesses and community colleges, particularly in rural areas, where community colleges are virtually the only source of employee training. (NB)

Reviews literature on the relationship between small businesses and the information sources and providers available to them; the use of information by small businesses; and the state of the information technology adoption process by small businesses, particularly as it relates to small-business information use. Also comments on changes in…

This article follows Engestrom (2001) in suggesting a new approach to learning in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on the social and cultural realities of the workplace. The article briefly reviews the theoretical status and practical standing of work on lifelong learning in SMEs, and suggests that Engestrom's work may help us to…

Micro and small enterprises comprise approximately 60-70% of enterprises in South and Central America. Most of these enterprises, particularly micro enterprises, are managed and owned by women. These women for the most part lack both skills and training in the use of computers and the Internet, and access to the use of information and…

Purpose: This purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of on-line training by small businesses in Australia. It explores the relationship between the owners acceptance and use of the Internet, and their current participation in training opportunities. Design/Methodology/Approach: A sample of small businesses which had participated in an…

Purpose: This study aims to examine workplace learning and job satisfaction in small, commercial US banks. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data collection with correlational procedure. Findings: The study found a statistically significant relationship between the workplace learning variables and the job satisfaction variables. Research…