Note:  High security website.  This site provides a straightforward business planner and tutorial.  Though not sustainably oriented, it is handy nonetheless.

Straightforward business planner and tutorial. Not sustainably oriented, but handy nonetheless.

From the USDA’s National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, and more exclusively concerning agriculture. Materials for non-traditional risk management training; and excellent analyses of reaching the “green” market, including assessment resources for direct marketing and adding value to farm products, among other rurally-based enterprise topics. 

The Sustainable Scale Project provides educational material and resources to assist government decision makers, civil society organizations and students to understand the implications of the sustainable scale concept, and wherever appropriate, how to integrate relevant policies and practices.  This excellent article provides history and context for the development of sustainable businesses; and provides a great overview for thinking about your own business in sustainable terms, or starting or buying a sustainable business. 

Mission: AEO supports the development of strong and effective U.S. microenterprise initiatives to assist underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding businesses.

Vision: Every entrepreneur in the U.S. has access to resources and services for creating wealth, assets and healthy communities.

History: AEO was founded in 1991 during a convening, in Berkeley, California, where of over 150 practitioners from over 100 microenterprise development organizations nationwide convened. Recognizing the opportunity and value of learning together, the convening participants decided AEO’s mission would be to serve as the forum and voice for individuals and organizations committed to expanding enterprise opportunity for people and communities with limited access to economic resources, and to serve as the catalyst for responsible industry growth.

Also at that time, AEO defined microenterprise development and coined the word "microentrepreneur" to describe a particular kind of business owner. Today, microenterprise is defined as a business with five or fewer employees, which requires $35,000 or less in start up capital. Microenterprise development is the provision of support to microenterprise owners (or microentrepreneurs).

The roots of U.S. microenterprise development sprung from economic programs that arose as a result of the women’s movement in the late 1960s. By the 1980s it was evident that an important new economic strategy was developing. As microenterprise development practitioner pioneers began innovative programs in scattered rural and urban areas nationwide, it became evident that an organized communication structure was needed to share knowledge, resources, challenges, and best practices among established and developing microenterprise development programs.

From 1991 to 1999, AEO was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. During the late 1990s the microenterprise development field identified the need for stronger advocacy efforts in support of federally funded microenterprise development programs. In 1999, to have closer access to policy makers on Capitol Hill, AEO moved to its current location in Arlington, Virginia– just across the Potomac River from the Washington, DC.

Today, AEO is an exciting and flourishing organization and the only national member-based association in the microenterprise development industry. Its membership has grown to include not only practitioners, but also advocates, public agencies, funders, individuals, and others who share in AEO's mission.

BizPathways is a service for anyone interested in starting, growing, or supporting a small business in Minnesota.
Reasonably-priced business development and marketing help from Minnesota Rural Partners.
 

View and download business plan templates from this gallery which contains real business plans and financial & accounting statements.

Co-op America is a membership organization, with much of use online for nonmembers. Its Green Business Program provides the networks, resources, and technical assistance needed for socially and environmentally responsible businesses to emerge and thrive in communities across the US. Participation in the program is fee-based on a sliding scale, and one’s business must first be screened.  Co-op America also helps individual consumers shift their spending to support green businesses and help build a green economy.  See the National Green Pages with its directory search of green businesses and products all over the U.S. See also Responsible Shopper, providing in-depth social/ environmental profiles on hundreds of companies. Compare companies and investigate industries.
https://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/index.cfm
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/rs/
 

This Minnesota Pollution Control Agency document was created for small manufacturers as a user-friendly guide to Minnesota's environmental regulations. 

From the USDA’s Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas. This publication is for people who already live in rural areas and want to add new enterprises to their operations. Its sections guide the reader in evaluating resources, assessing finances, gathering information, and marketing. It also discusses choosing an "alternative" enterprise and offers further resources.