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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5"><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">According
to the </span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b9h&AN=84473631&site=sbrc-live"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Small
Business Start-Up Guide: Michigan</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">, small businesses provide 1.9 million jobs in our state and account for 99.6% of the state’s businesses. Local libraries can provide support to business
owners through eResources in the Michigan eLibrary (MeL).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To help with market research, MeL includes access to
</span><a href="http://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=dnow"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Gale Business: DemographicsNow</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.
Patrons can use the <b>Demographics</b> reports to learn about income, housing, race, age, education, retail spending, and consumer expenditures of the people in a selected geographic area such as a city, county, or ZIP code. Detailed information about the
spending habits of potential customers can help determine whether an area could support new business activity. Using the
<b>People & Companies</b> reports, business owners can create mailing lists to contact potential customers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Entrepreneurs have access to thousands of
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ent&bquery=swot+analysis&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">SWOT
Analysis</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) reports from MarketLine in
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-ent"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Entrepreneurial Studies Source</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.
These reports might be used for strategic planning, discovering new business avenues, and avoiding future pitfalls. Using the
<b>Company Profiles</b> link at the top of the page, one can access MarketLine Reports that include information such as a company overview, business description, key employees, and major products and services (example:
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=dmlsa&AN=A0B328A1-3EB4-4B59-B11F-78556EDA8FC9&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Pfizer,
Inc.</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Keeping current on topics such as</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qbh&bquery=communication&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
communication</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qbh&bquery=leadership&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">leadership</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qbh&bquery=workplace+culture&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">workplace
culture</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">, and
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qbh&bquery=ethics&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">ethics</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
can be easier if one has read the latest books on each topic. However, with only so much time in a day,
</span><a href="https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-qbh"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Business Book Summaries</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">
can be a helpful tool. Each book is summarized in a concise report that includes
<b>Key Takeaways</b> and an<b> Overview</b>. Those who prefer audiobooks can listen to an
<b>Audio Summary</b>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you are interested in learning more about eResources for Michigan businesses offered by MeL, you can
</span><a href="https://mcls.corsizio.com/c/6373f9df75106aa87781f9a4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">register for a free webinar</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> that will include demonstrations
of these tools to help library staff gain expertise and knowledge to help small businesses in your community thrive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact
</span></b><a href="mailto:melerhelp@mcls.org"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;background:white">melerhelp@mcls.org</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">
for help.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">Brought to you by
<b>Laura Warren-Gross</b> from the MeL Team. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">Want more information on MeL? Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan
library listservs, visit </span><a href="http://mel.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#2954D1;background:white">http://mel.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">,
or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via </span><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#2954D1;background:white">GovDelivery</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">.
We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access
only. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">#IMLSGrant <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Laura Warren-Gross<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Midwest Collaborative<i> fo</i>r Library Services (MCLS)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">1407 Rensen St, Suite 1, Lansing, MI 48910<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">(517) 481-2022<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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