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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News September 16, 2004 By Colin Atagi, Daily Tribune Staff Some of the best advice for future business owners could come from current entrepreneurs, according to members of a small business industry cluster group. Tasha Shurpit, co-owner of Game Exchange in Rapids Mall, thinks that's a good idea. "It's always good to talk to someone who's been in business because they could give you insider information you wouldn't get anywhere else," said Shurpit, who isn't a member of the cluster group. While other industry clusters are working to revitalize specific industries, the small business industry cluster group is focusing on helping just about every type of small business, said cluster co-chairman Alan Panek. "Our focus will be to support existing businesses and to foster and support the development of new businesses," he said. "We want to be a step ahead, so as other groups identify other potential businesses for the area, we want something to support (those businesses)." There are a few things James Saylor, co-owner of Rapid Rehab in Rapids Mall, wishes he knew when he opened his family business. There are a lot of roles a business owner plays when running a business, and it's important to understand how to manage a daily schedule, Saylor said. "The more you can educate yourself on the core aspect of your business, the better," he said. The cluster's first plan of action will include the development and distribution of a survey to "as many local businesses as possible," Panek said. The survey will help to identify common issues businesses face and common things they need for support. "By looking at these results, we hope to develop an information library or to put on seminars to help these businesses know where to turn (when facing) a common problem," Panek said. "We're also hoping we're going to be able to use these survey results to help businesses in the area to connect to each other and to remove any barriers to growth and to identify any opportunities for growth in new businesses." The success of the group will depend on getting local businesses to complete and return the surveys, Panek said. The other goal of the cluster group is to foster new businesses through other resources, such as the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance's entrepreneur boot camps and Mid-State Technical College's entrepreneur training courses. "We hope to develop a mentoring panel entrepreneurs can turn to for suggestions," Panek said. The group also will work with the financial cluster group to develop books on the loan application process and how to develop business plans. "We'll renew existing materials available and use knowledge gained in helping existing businesses to help new ones," Panek said. You can reach Colin Atagi at 422-6728 or at catagi@wisconsinrapidstribune.com.
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