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Frequently Asked Questions about AICC

AICC is a newly created innovation center. Its products and services are still in development, but by November 2004 there will be a wide range of information and commercialization tools available. We will educate clients on how to make their ideas work. These clients – mainly from agriculture – should be able to go to investors with a viable and well-planned idea. Their short-term goal of securing funding and their long-term goal of creating (or expanding) a business are the points we will help them prepare for.

Our mission is to create a more profitable agriculture. If we can, we will help assess the economic viability of the client’s ideas. No matter what, we will provide clients with the background tools necessary to do a thorough self-assessment of their idea.

What does AICC do?
New value-added ventures have the potential to significantly increase incomes for producers and producer groups. Helping producers and producer groups assess the potential of these ventures is what AICC does.

AICC provides educational materials as well as advice. The materials include
• An online business planning tool (coming in November 2004)
• Workshops
• Readings and fact sheets
• Consultations

AICC does not award money. However it may be able to direct you to a venture capitalist or other funding source.

By providing these services, AICC will create opportunities for agricultural producers and producer groups to develop value-added agricultural businesses.

How much does it cost?
Most AICC programs and materials are complimentary, or are available for a nominal fee. In-depth economic research is valued on a project-by-project basis.

What can AICC promise?
We promise you will understand your idea, your market, and yourself better. Self-confidence and self-awareness will be invaluable.

What services will AICC offer?

• An online business planning tool (coming in November 2004)
• Workshops
• Readings and fact sheets
• Consultations
  

How long will AICC services take?
Apart from our self-directed business planning tool (which occurs at your pace) or our workshops, one-on-one expert consulting may take as little as a phone conversation, or as much as several months. The idea is to give you the best information available and help you make an informed decision.

What publications will AICC offer?
AICC has an extensive series of applied-use publications on all aspects of business planning. These are the backbone of the explanatory pieces for the business plan template. They will be short in length and long on application.

Look for other publications such as
• Articles on agricultural entrepreneurship,
• Case studies of how the commercialization process worked for others (the four ‘model’ cases). Plus short descriptions of any cases that occur in the course of the year, and
• Trade press articles on business planning.

Look for specific publications such as
• Intellectual Property: Obtaining Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents
• Selecting and Managing Consultants
• Am I Capable of Being A Manager?
• Know Your Customers: questions to consider
• Industry Analysis: The Five Forces
• Creating Value, Estimating Costs and Increasing Margins in Value Added Businesses