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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

NebraskaEDGE

Helping Small Businesses Succeed

About NebraskaEDGE
NebraskaEDGE Group Picture

The NebraskaEDGE (Enhancing, Developing and Growing Entrepreneurs) is part of the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  It is a community-based entrepreneurial training program designed to encourage the expansion of small businesses, including agricultural operations. Since 1993, EDGE has helped nearly 2,200 individuals transform their visionary ideas into viable business opportunities. The results have been new business start-ups, business expansions, and local community and economic development.

The NebraskaEDGE mission is to promote community and economic growth through small business and management training. EDGE meets this mission by offering a collaborative approach to learning between the community, business owners and experienced instructors. EDGE creates an atmosphere that makes business planning easy (and fun).

Each EDGE course prompts the participant to answer key questions about their business, which in turn, serves as the basis for their daily management decisions.  This learning process helps to guide participants through the development of a solid business plan for their own business.

Besides the adult-world, the NebraskaEDGE also focuses on tomorrow's business community.  EDGE is a resource for youth looking to explore self-employment opportunities.  Curriculum is a fun, graphic walk through the world of entrepreneurship.  High school students and teachers alike enjoy the hands-on approach to learning business skills.

The EDGE program offers business development training to help individuals polish their skills, expand their knowledge, and discover how to handle the real-world conditions that impact their new and existing businesses.

During an EDGE training course, participants will learn how to:

  • Determine if it is feasible to start of expand a business.
  • Structure a successful business that aligns with personal ideals and aspirations.
  • Research the industry, set pricing and get the product or service to market.
  • Development marketing strategies that effectively reach the customer base.
  • Understand the terms used by lenders and legal advisors.
  • Efficiently manage operations -- finances/cash flow, legal issues, employees, suppliers, and more.
  • Craft a detailed business plan and actively use it as a road map to manage a business.

Each course provides opportunities for one-on-one advice from instructors, as well as a chance to solicit fresh ideas from a group of fellow entrepreneurs.  Courses are taught by people with first hand business or consulting experience.