AERN home > News
News
Financing Your Business (12/20/11)
Michigan State University did a study in 2011 about small business needs and capital access barriers in a region of rural Michigan. What they found in Michigan is pertinent to Alabama. Read more.
AERN Partner Sponsors Business Expo (11/1/11)
The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce held its annual Professional Development Summit and Business Expo on October 27, 2011 at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center. AERN provided an exhibit table of information on resources available at the local Center. Read more.
AERN Co-Sponsors a Workshop for Entrepreneurs in Washington County (11/1/11)
Outreach Coordinator Mary Patterson led a workshop for entrepreneurs sponsored by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Public Library on September 8, 2011 in Chatom. Approximately twelve businesses were in attendance as Library Director Jessica Ross and Chamber Director Brooke Atchison provided a light lunch to those attending. Read more.
AERN Featured in Meetings in Sumter County (8/29/11)
Ms. Allison Tucker, director of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, and Mary Patterson, AERN Outreach Director, pictured left, were present for two meetings in Sumter County recently where Ms. Patterson presented information to business leaders on AERN resources located at the newly opened AERN Center in Livingston. Read more.
AERN is Present "After Hours" (8/17/11)
The Bibb County Chamber of Commerce held its "Business After Hours" meeting on July 26 at The Oaks, a newly renovated event venue in Centreville. Outreach Coordinator Mary Patterson, pictured at right with Chamber Director Tracey Mitchell, visited with business owners and community leaders to distribute information about the AERN center while enjoying refreshments, entertainment, and a tour of the home, reception hall and grounds. Read more.
Grand Opening of AERN Center in Sumter County (8/11/11)
The Sumter County Chamber of Commerce held its grand opening of the AERN Center on July 26, 2011 in Livingston. The Chamber’s executive director, Allison Tucker, co-hosted a reception at the Chamber office along with AERN Co-Directors Annette Watters and Paavo Hanninen, and Outreach Coordinator Mary Patterson. Read more.
AERN Annual Meeting Held on Flag Day in Demopolis (6/24/11)
The AERN Partners' meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14, 2011, at the Demopolis Higher Education Center. Ms. Jenn Tate, Director of the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the audience of community leaders, and Ms. Annette Watters, Co-Director of AERN gave a presentation about the predictors of rural prosperity. Read more.
AERN Represented at Eutaw Rotary Club Meeting (6/23/11)
On May 26, 2011, Mary Patterson, Outreach Coordinator of the Alabama Entrepreneurial Research Network, attended the Rotary Club meeting in Eutaw, Alabama to talk about AERN resources. Pictured are Ralph Banks, President of the Rotary Club, and Mary Patterson. See more photos at our Flickr site.
Spring 2011 Evaluation Research Study Results Released (6/23/2011)
In the spring semester of 2011, the AERN commissioned UA's College of Education to evaluate the AERN program. The three areas of research within this study were to determine our host agencies' perceptions of the partnership with AERN, to investigate AERN's participation in engaged scholarship, and to determine if the AERN's mission is congruent with the University of Alabama's mission and the missions of other University programs. Read more.
AERN is on Facebook (6/20/11)
AERN is now on Facebook! Visit our page or "Like" us using the buttons in the left column or by using this link: our Facebook page.
AERN Eastern Regional Meeting Held in Tuskegee (5/12/11)
On April 21 AERN co-directors Annette Watters and Paavo Hanninen, along with outreach coordinator Mary Patterson, assisted Vicky Grice of the Tuskegee-Macon County Community Development Corporation (TMCD) in hosting a meeting of AERN partners in the eastern part of the state. The purpose of the meeting was to share ideas for economic and business development in rural east Alabama. Read more.
AERN Represented at Small Business Resource Event in Demopolis (5/12/11)
On April 16 entrepreneurs from the Black Belt convened at Rooster Hall in Demopolis to take notes on opportunities for educational and training programs, low interest loan programs, and resources available for small businesses. The event was co-sponsored by Merchants & Farmers Bank of Greene County and Regions Bank of Demopolis with refreshments provided. Read more....
AERN Web Master Receives Award (5/12/11)
AERN congratulates UA business librarian Karen Chapman, AERN web master, on receiving the University of Alabama's Vergil Parks McKinley, Sr. Award for outstanding action or idea contributing to UA's mission of teaching, research, and service. The award was presented to her by UA President Robert Witt at a campus-wide meeting on April 12. Ms. Chapman's contributions to AERN are indicative of the skills and dedication required for this award. We are very proud to have her as part of the AERN team at UA.
Business Owners Attentive at Bibb County Chamber Breakfast (5/12/11)
On April 7 AERN Outreach Coordinator Mary Patterson spoke to Bibb County business leaders about resources available in their local AERN Center. The group talked about how to use AERN materials to create a business plan, research area demographics, and get help from a business librarian. The breakfast meeting was well attended by Bibb County business owners who had questions on expanding an existing business and also on filing the proper tax forms for a start-up business. Participants enjoyed a continental breakfast of coffee, muffins, and fruit as they networked and exchanged business cards and ideas in an informal atmosphere. Bibb County has been an AERN partner since 2007.
Database available for limited time (2/18/11)
AERN users now have temporary, complimentary access to the Small Business Reference Center database via the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). The Small Business Reference Center can help small business owners with buying/selling a business, managing employees, writing a business plan, understanding legal information, marketing a business, and other related issues. The database includes current information on relevant topics from starting a company, operations management and sales to growing or rescuing a business. The free use of this database from now through June 2011 is provided by EBSCO industries. Use the link in the left column to connect to the Alabama Virtual Library.
AERN announces new partner in Sumter County (4/14/11)
AERN has a new partner, Sumter County, with offices in the Sumter County Alabama Chamber of Commerce in Livingston on Lafayette Street. Allison Tucker, chamber director, says she is excited about the opportunities that AERN resources and training will bring to Sumter County's local businesses and its citizens. "The chamber's goal is to promote the competitive enterprise system of business, and to promote business and community growth and development in Sumter County so that its citizens and all areas of its business community shall prosper. The chamber of commerce is pleased to add AERN resources in its role of promoting the businesses and citizens of Sumter County," Tucker said.
Resources supplied by AERN include a library of essential business start-up and practice books, a computer with Microsoft Office and other key software related to starting, maintaining and expanding a business. AERN also conducts workshops on business matters that will be of interest to Washington County residents. Announcements about AERN events in Sumter County, Alabama will follow soon.
AERN announces new partner in Washington County (2/17/11)
AERN has a new partner, Washington County, with offices in the Washington County Public Library in Chatom. Jessica Ross, library director, says she is excited about the opportunities that AERN resources and training will bring to Washington County's local businesses and its citizens. "The library takes an active role in the overall development of Washington County," Ross said, providing residents a place to learn, read or just relax in a beautiful and comforting atmosphere. Resources supplied by AERN include a library of essential business start-up and practice books, a computer with Microsoft Office and other key software related to starting, maintaining and expanding a business. AERN also conducts workshops on business matters that will be of interest to Washington County residents.
AERN featured at national conference (10/8/10)
Our good work, partners, yours and ours, has been well received by some of the nation's leading scholars in outreach scholarship. The AERN was featured in a recent presentation by AERN co-directors Annette Watters and Paavo Hanninen at the National Outreach Scholarship Conference held at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. View the slides and notes from the presentation.
Alabama Is Good for Small Businesses (01/14/10)
An article in the Birmingham Business Journal reports that the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council has rated Alabama as the 9th-best state for small businesses. Read the whole article at their website.
Press Releases
November 2, 2010
Ribbon-cutting will mark move to library for Small-Business Resource Center
January 22, 2010
AERN to Present Business Workshop in Demopolis on Feb. 10
AERNews, quarterly newsletter
View recent or archived issues; sign up for email delivery