Connecticut Department of Labor 200 Folly Brook Boulevard Whethersfield, Connecticut 06109-1114

$205,481

The program will provide training, technical assistance and support services to microenterprise owners or potential owners located in the eastern half of the state, which has long suffered from high unemployment rates due to loss of manufacturing and defense industry jobs. In addition, the program will provide linkages with coordinating agencies and lending institutions which offer business services.

State of Maine Department of Labor 20 Union Street, P.O. Box 309 Augusta, Maine 04332-0309

$210,000

The program will provide training, technical assistance and support services to microenterprise owners or potential owners located in the eastern half of the state, which has long suffered from high unemployment rates due to loss of manufacturing and defense industry jobs. In addition, the program will provide linkages with coordinating agencies and lending institutions which offer business services.

State of Vermont 5 Green Mountain Drive Montpelier, Vermont 05601-0488

$300,000

This project will conduct primary and secondary marketing research to connect clients to markets with strong demand, create five Market Research Centers statewide where clients will receive intensive case management and group support, and develop an on-line "smart-site" oriented to micro business marketing needs.

Michigan Jobs Commission 201 N. Washington Square, 4th Floor Lansing, Michigan 48913

$225,000

This microenterprise project will bring new and better resources to the state's business and job development programs to increase economic activity in depressed areas of the state. The state will also round out its various economic development initiatives by promoting microenterprise efforts, and fully integrate economic development and workforce development activities. It recognizes the need to couple public funds now with private sources to more fully develop these services.

State of Iowa 1000 E Grand Des Moines, Iowa 50309

$300,000

This project will formally institutionalize microenterprise development training into the state's workforce development delivery system. By integrating the state's Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) program with the microenterprise development capacities, the workforce development system will be enhanced by training with an existing service provider in order to make microenterprise development a more viable option for JTPA recipients throughout the state.