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"State of the Field". This major publication from FIELD examines the state of the microenterprise industry in the United States.
Read more.

Action plan for the field. As the new administration took office in 2009, leading microenterprise leaders met to create an action plan for the field. Those ideas are summarized in a report from FIELD, Moving the Microenterprise Field Forward: Priorities, Strategies and Roles. A supplement, summarizing participants' contributions to a wiki used in connection with the meeting.

The Scale Academy includes seven microenterprise organizations committed to scaling-up through new business model development while maintaining quality and sustainability. Learn more about members' strategies.

Webinars and podcasts highlight critical issues facing the microenterprise industry. These include FIELD's Leading Edge series funded by the Bank of America. Browse recorded Webinars.

Donor Resources. FIELD offers two resources for donors interested in the U.S. microenterprise field. FIELD's Funder Guide Series provides donors with insights into the field and effective ways in which it can be supported. FIELD also staffs a Microenterprise Funders Group that provides opportunities for exchange and learning among donors. Learn more about these donor resources.

Need data? MicroTest, a tool FIELD developed to help programs track performance and client outcomes, also enables us to generate useful data on the microenterprise field. Looking for data on entrepreneurs and how they fare after training? Click here. Looking for data on program performance? Click here.

MicroTest revamp underway. With funding from Rabobank, MicroTest is conducting a strategic planning process. To keep stakeholders engaged we've created the MicroTest Roundtable, a new on-line forum where regular updates are posted and readers can provide feedback. Click here to access the Roundtable.

More MicroTest products. A number of additional products have been developed from MicroTest data. For a complete list of reports, PowerPoints, and more, click here.

MicroTest membership info. While many MicroTest products and services are free, members have access to additional benefits. Click here for membership information.

MicroTest Webinar series. Staff presents - and archives - a series of annual trainings for new members, and those wanting a refresher course, in how to use MicroTest tools. Click here for details.

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Webinar on Tax Prep for Microentrepreneurs. This two-part installment of FIELD's Leading Edge Webinar series provides an in-depth exploration of the why and how of providing tax preparation services to microentrepreneurs. Click here to access recorded versions of the Webinars and other resources on the topic.

New FIELD study on University Student-run Microenterprise Organizations. University student-run microenterprise organizations have emerged over recent years to offer direct services (both training and financing) to small business owners in their local communities. FIELD's newest study explores the strengths and challenges of these nascent, yet growing, organizations, and their potential impact on the field in general. Read the full study. FIELD also co-sponsored a conference of these student groups in October 2009, read a summary here.

Tremendous Response to the Microenterprise Field-wide Survey! The field-wide microenterprise survey closed on November 13th with a remarkable 368 responses! Thank you to all microenterprise organizations that participated in the survey and to our partners who helped make this survey an unprecedented success. The forthcoming directory resulting from the survey will catalogue the largest number of implementing microenterprise organizations in the United States to date. Further, the data collected will allow the industry, funders, and policy makers to better identify and define our industry. Keep on the lookout in early 2010 for the on-line directory and data highlights! Click here to see the survey questions programs were asked. Learn more about the survey effort and the buzz inside the field.

FIELD launches two new projects for SBA. Awarded a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's PRIME (Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs), FIELD will support a year-long learning process on scaling up business development services. Learn more about PRIME. FIELD/MicroTest, under a new SBA contract, will refine the performance metrics SBA uses to track its Microloan Program and will train microlenders in how to collect and report data against those metrics. Learn more about FIELD/MicroTest's work the SBA Microloan Program.

Building credit, building businesses. The newest funder guide from FIELD explores the new roles that microenterprise programs are taking to build the credit of entrepreneurs. Co-authored with the Credit Builders Alliance, the guide explores key challenges in building credit, describes new products being offered by microenterprise programs, and identifies opportunities for funders. Download Guide.

Recent Webinar available on-line. FIELD's recent Webinar about Entrepreneurship Development Systems (EDSs) now can be easily downloaded from our Web site. During the Webinar, staff and guests discuss the concepts behind these systems and the role microenterprise programs can play in them. View Webinar. Download FIELD's recent report on the W. K. Kellogg Foundation's EDS demonstration.

Fact sheet explores business starts and survival rates. MicroTest's latest client outcomes fact sheet delves into business starts and survival rates from client outcomes surveys conducted by MicroTest members in 2008. The fact sheet series will continue in the coming months with additional issues focused on surveys conducted in 2008. Read PDF.

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