The SRDC seeks to award mini-grants to those Extension Educators or teams of educators that are utilizing one or more of the National e-Commerce Extension Initiative’s nine online learning modules. This funding cycle the following teams were selected to implement these learning modules through workshop offerings in their target communities:

Talladega County Cooperative Extension, Talladega Alabama.
Curriculum Selected: A Beginner’s Guide to e-Commerce: Easy Tools for Profit
Facilitator (s) : Wanda Jurriaans, County Extension Coordinator for Telladega County, Alabama and Isaac Chappell, Regional Extension Agent / Financial Management.

Alcorn State University Extension Program, Various Counties, Mississippi.
Curriculum Selected: A Beginner’s Guide to e-Commerce: Easy Tools for Profit
Facilitator (s): Katrina McLin, Community Resource Development Educator.

Congratulations to both teams on a job well done.

Electronic Retailing has been added to our Learning Center line – up. Developed by Dr. Julie Sexton with the support of Dr. Brian McCann and Dr. Merrill Warkentin, this self-paced course introduces potential ecommerce entrepreneurs to the concepts that govern conducting online business and sales. Using interactions, such as games, simulations and you-fix-it case studies, participants will learn the basics of selling online, from understanding what motivates consumer decisions and trends to making practical choices for efficiency. This course is suitable for Extension educators and clientele alike.

To review our other learning modules, please visit The Learning Center.

The National e-Commerce Extension Initiative’s Learning Center offers a learning module devoted to case studies. These case studies stand as an example to help other entrepreneurs relate to the story behind the business. Small business owners seeking inspiration and confidence to develop or enhance their Web presence can learn from the actual Web sites associated with the case studies. In addition, they can relate to the process which other small businesses undertook to develop and manage their e-commerce strategies and accompanying Web sites. Case studies can also be used in program marketing presentations with business and civic groups, development organizations, youth entrepreneurship groups, or in consultations with individual business owners.

The National e-Commerce Extension Initiative’s 2009 fall Webinar Series has come to an end. These Webinars were designed for Extension educators, economic development professionals and other interested parties who have a desire to work with local leaders, citizens, and organizations to build a strong, vibrant plan for introducing and effectively using broadband in their communities. The Fall 2009 Webinar Series spotlighted newly developed online learning curricula. Participation in the Webinar Series was highly recommended for those Extension Educators interested in applying for the Implementation Mini-Grants Program. To listen to the archived Webinars, please go to the Webinar Series Page.

Web site Basics: A Primer for Hispanic Small Businesses is the latest offering added to our Learning Center.  This learning module can open doors for Hispanic Small Businesses through effective Web site design and online shopping options.  So whether you have a business and are thinking about adding Spanish offerings or you are a Spanish speaking business looking to add ecommerce as a value added measure, this module has something for you.