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Toolkit Appendices
Small Business Technology Taskforce
June 19, 2013
Eric Frederick, Program Manager, Connect Michigan
Claire Glenn, Special Projects Coordinator, CEDAM
Keith Lambert, Microenterprise Network of Michigan Coordinator, CEDAM
These appendices were designed to be tailored and morphed to fit the needs
of any given community. Edit them to your liking!
Appendix I: Business Assessment Survey Template
Appendix II: Asset and Resource Inventory Template
Appendix III: Invitation Template
Appendix IV: Recruitment Letter Template
Appendix V: Press Release Template
Appendix VI: Taskforce Workshop Agenda Template
Appendix VII: Flyer/Promotions Text Template
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Appendix I: Business Assessment Survey Template
COMMUNITY Business Technology Assessment
COMMUNITY is working to encourage the adoption and use of broadband and related
technology by rural small businesses in Michigan. As a business in COMMUNITY, we are asking
for your assistance to better understand the use of technology by our small business
community. The survey should take approx. 10 minutes to complete. For questions, please
contact COMMUNITY CONTACT at PHONE NUMBER or EMAIL. Thank you for your time.
1. Business Information
Business Name:
Primary Contact:
Business Address
(Street, City, State, Zip
Code):
Telephone Number:
Email Address (if available):
Business Website (if
available):
Please choose the category
that best describes your
business type:
Please further describe your
business in two sentences or
less.
o Agriculture, forestry,
fishing, or hunting
o Mining, quarrying, or oil
and gas extraction
o Utilities
o Construction
o Manufacturing
o Wholesale trade
o Retail trade
o Transportation and
warehousing
o Information
o Finance or insurance
o Real estate, rental, or
leasing
o Professional, scientific, or
technical services
o Management of companies
or enterprises
o Administrative, support, or
waste management and
remediation services
o Educational services
o Healthcare or social
assistance
o Arts, entertainment, or
recreation
o Accommodation or food
service
o Public administration
o Other services
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2. Broadband Adoption
Does your business currently use any type of
computer technology to handle any of its
functions (e.g. website, sales, cash receipts,
accounting, inventory, communications, etc.)?
3. Technology Adoption
Please briefly describe why your business does
not use computer technology.
Are you interested in learning more about
internet and technology use for your business?
o Yes (please go to Question 4)
o No (please go to Question 3)
o Yes (please go to Question 10)
o No (thank you for completely this survey)
4. Broadband Adoption
Does your business use the internet to handle
any of its business functions?
o Yes (please go to Question 6)
o No (please go to Question 5)
5. Internet Adoption
What is the primary reason
your business does not use the
internet?
To the best of your knowledge,
is broadband or high speed
internet service available in
your area?
Does your business plan to
subscribe to broadband
service in the next 12 months?
Are you interested in learning
more about internet and
technology use for business?
o The monthly cost of
internet service is too
expensive
o The installation cost of
internet service is too
expensive
o Your business can do
everything it needs
without the internet
o Internet service is too
complicated
o Internet service is not
available in your area and
you don’t want dial-up
o Yes
o Internet service poses a
security risk
o Your business does not use
computers
o It would take too long to
train your employees on
how to use the internet
o The internet would be too
much of a distraction for
your employees
o Other:________________
_________________________
o No
o Yes
o No
o Yes (please go to Question 10)
o No (thank you for completing this survey)
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6. Internet Service
Which of the following
describes the type of
internet access at your
business?
Does your current internet
service meet the needs of
your business?
7. Technology Use
Please select the
type(s) of
application(s) of
technology currently
used by your
business. (Please
select all that apply).
8. Social Media
Does your business
use any form of
social media? Please
indicate the social
media platforms
currently used by
your business.
o Dial-Up
o DSL (Digital Subscriber
Line, from the phone
company)
o Cable
o Dedicated services, such
as T1 or T3
o Yes
o No
o Don’t know
o Fixed wireless service
through an antenna
o Satellite broadband
o Mobile broadband
o Fiber optic service
o Email
o Website
o E-Commerce (i.e. selling
products or services
online)
o Online marketing (e.g.
banner ads, Google
AdWords, Google
location services, enewsletters, etc.)
o Point-of-sale software
(may include bar code
scanning or individual
item coding)
o Accounting software
(e.g. Quickbooks, etc.)
o Inventory control
software
o Video conferencing
o Allow employees to
telework
o Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
telephone service (e.g. Vonage,
Skype, etc.)
o QR codes
o Desktop sharing or webinar
applications
o Mobile phone service for business
purposes for you and/or employees
o Cloud or off-site data storage, backup, and/or recovery
o Cloud-based software applications
o Mobile applications
o Automated time tracking software
o Other:________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
o
o
o
o
o
o Flickr
o Instagram
o Pinterest
o Other:________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
No social media used
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
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9. Other Technology Use
Please provide any
additional information
regarding technology
use by your business.
10. Technology Interest
Are you interested in o
learning more about
o
the use of technology o
in your business?
o
Please select the
type(s) or
application(s) of
o
technology in which
you are interested in
learning. Please
select all that apply.
o
o
o
o
o
Are you interested in
learning more about
social media? Please
indicate the social
media platforms you
are interested in
learning.
o
o
o
o
Internet connectivity
Email
Website
E-Commerce (i.e. selling
products or services
online)
Online marketing (e.g.
banner ads, Google
AdWords, Google
location services, enewsletters, etc.)
Point-of-sale software
(may include bar code
scanning or individual
item coding)
Accounting software
(e.g. Quickbooks, etc.)
Inventory control
software
Video conferencing
Allow employees to
telework
o Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
telephone service (e.g. Vonage,
Skype, etc.)
o QR codes
o Desktop sharing or webinar
applications
o Mobile phone service for business
purposes for you and/or employees
o Cloud or off-site data storage, backup, and/or recovery
o Cloud-based software applications
o Mobile applications
o Automated time tracking software
o Other:________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
o Flickr
o Instagram
o Pinterest
o Other:________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Thank you for completing the survey.
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Appendix II: Asset and Resource Inventory Template
Resource/Asset
Contact
Person
Phone
Email
Type
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
o
o
o
o
o
Taskforce lead
Taskforce volunteer
Broadband provider
Technology resource
Other
Notes
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Appendix III: Invitation Template
Invitation to Get Involved:
COMMUNITY Small Business Technology Taskforce
Why? Technology adoption is an opportunity for our local small businesses to
strengthen and grow by lowering costs, increasing revenues, reaching new
markets and improving communications. We want to provide education and
training to help local entrepreneurs realize this potential, to support healthy small
businesses and a vibrant local economy.
How? To accomplish goal, we will be developing a Small Business Technology
Taskforce in COMMUNITY. This Taskforce will be a cross-sector collaboration of
staff and volunteers dedicated to providing customized assistance to meet the
technology education needs of local small businesses.
Who? DESCRIBE ORGANIZATION(S)
What? To kickstart the development of a Small Business Technology Taskforce,
we will be conducting a workshop for those interested in participating in the
taskforce. We want you to join us – be prepared to identify needs, brainstorm
resources and put creative plans into action!
When? DATE, TIME
Where? LOCATION
Questions? Contact NAME, TITLE at EMAIL or PHONE NUMBER
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Appendix IV: Recruitment Letter Template
DATE
FULL NAME
ORGANIZATION
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
Re: Small Business Technology Taskforce in COMMUNITY
Dear FIRST NAME,
Small business and microbusinesses serve as a critical piece of local economies, but often struggle to
grow or become sustainable. Web-based technologies can provide a critical avenue for business growth
through opportunities for online marketing and social media, e-commerce and online sales, point of sale
and inventory, cloud computing and access to updated information and resources. Research conducted
by Connect Michigan, however, shows that many small businesses and microbusinesses, especially in
rural areas, do not utilize web-based technologies, and need hands-on and one-on-one assistance to
take advantage of these benefits and opportunities.
In light of this, we are launching a Small Business Technology Taskforce in COMMUNITY to increase
adoption and effective use of broadband and related technology by local businesses. We will be
mobilizing existing resources and implementing a toolkit provided by the Michigan Rural Council,
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Connect Michigan and the Microenterprise Network of Michigan, to educate and train business owners
and entrepreneurs on the ways technology can increase revenues, decreases costs and improve
communications and information sharing. We believe that this local Taskforce can serve as a sustainable
advocate for providing this assistance and supporting our local businesses through opportunities to
grow and thrive.
To kickstart the development of a Small Business Technology Taskforce, we will be conducting a
workshop for those interested in participating in the taskforce. Because of your work in our business
community, we want you to join us. This is will be an opportunity for us to come together, develop
partnerships, identify needs, brainstorm resources and put creative plans into action!
The workshop will take place DATE, TIME, LOCATION. I sincerely hope that you will be able to join us.
We believe your experience, insights and leadership will be a true asset to this Taskforce. Please RSVP to
me, and feel free to contact me with any questions.
SIGNATURE
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Appendix V: Press Release Template
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE
Contact: NAME
TITLE, ORGANIZATION
EMAIL
PHONE
SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TASKFORCE LAUNCHED IN
COMMUNITY
CITY, STATE – ORGANIZATION is pleased to announce the launch of a Small Business
Technology Taskforce to facilitate efforts to increase broadband adoption by local small
businesses and microbusiness. The program will be led by LEAD ORGANIZATION, in
partnership with LIST ANY PARTNERS.
The Small Business Technology Taskforce will be a collaborative effort of staff and volunteers to
provide localized technology training, education and assistance to entrepreneurs and business
owners, highlighting the many ways broadband-related technologies can increase revenues,
decrease costs and improve communications and information sharing. Ultimately, the Taskforce
will aim to increase the adoption and effective use of technologies for businesses and
entrepreneurs in COMMUNITY.
“Access to and adoption of broadband technologies is critical to the strength of our economy
and the success of our local small business and microbusiness owners,” said NAME, TITLE,
ORGANIZATION. “We hope that this project will allow us to better link small businesses to the
resources and technology opportunities that can help them continue to grow.”
The development of a Small Business Technology Taskforce is supported by the resources and
toolkit of the Michigan Rural Council, Connect Michigan and the Microenterprise Network of
Michigan, which can be accessed online at rural.cedam.info.
The launch of a local Taskforce will be kicked off with a workshop to plan the development and
strategies of the Taskforce. INCLUDE DATE, TIME, LOCATION, ETC. DETAILS OF
WORKSHOP DAY.
BOILERPLATE
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Appendix VI: Taskforce Workshop Agenda Template
Small Business Technology Taskforce Workshop
COMMUNITY
DATE
LOCATION
LOCATION
9:00am to 3:30pm
AGENDA
9:00am – 9:10am
Welcome and introductions
9:10am – 9:30am
Background and purpose
9:30am – 10:15am
Screening of Bright Side Small Business Technology episode
10:15am – 10:30am
Morning break
10:30am – 12:00pm
Toolkit exploration
 Who do we need on the taskforce?
 How are we going to assess the need?
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Lunch break
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Workshop: creating a local Small Business Technology Taskforce
 What resources and partnerships can we use to meet needs?
 How will we deliver training and education?
 How will we provide follow-up and support to adopters?
 How will we build awareness?
 How do we measure success?
3:00pm – 3:30pm
Next steps and follow-up
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Appendix VII: Flyer/Promotions Text Template
Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Prospective Entrepreneurs
ENTITY NAME has developed a local Small Business Technology Taskforce
to help you and your business:
1. Increase revenue;
2. Decrease costs;
3. Reach new markets; and
4. Improve communications.
The Taskforce is available to provide one-on-one assistance to show you
how to use or improve technology-based tools for growing your business,
including
 website development and social media;
 teleconferencing, cloud computing and security;
 accounting, inventory and point-of-sale software; and
 e-marketing and online sales, and more!
We know you work hard to make your business a success running a business can be a 24/7 job
that requires you to wear several (or all!) hats.
Let our Taskforce give you tips and tools that will
put technology to work for you and your business!
Contact us: CONTACT INFORMATION
INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS, IF APPLICABLE