posted on February 23, 2010 11:00
By Jamie Schriner-Hooper
Organization Specialist
Michigan Main Street Center
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
The IRS defines a partnership as the relationship existing between two or more persons who join to carry on a trade or business. Each person contributes money, property, labor or skill, and expects to share in the profits and losses of the business. Sound familiar? In these trying times (yes, I said it), it has never been more important to trim budgets and continually do more with less. Partnerships and shared resources have never been more important than they are now. Businesses, organizations and individuals are continually becoming more creative in the partnerships they forge.
For small businesses, the business incubator seems to be the current “it” partnership. Small and start-up businesses are realizing that they can benefit by partnering with others and creating a cooperative-style environment. Participants share space – small offices, restrooms, conference rooms and common areas, ideas and equipment. While it is often difficult for a start-up company afford that new, fancy copy machine that they’ll only use a few times a week, it is feasible for a half dozen small businesses share it. Because they’re also sharing space, the equipment is located in close-proximity to everyone. In addition to equipment, these folks are sharing ideas. Look at the Technology Innovation Center, or TIC, in East Lansing. A number of small businesses have located in the building, sharing creative juices and helping to promote each others’ businesses.
Main Street programs have always known the value of partnerships and even have a committee dedicated to forging and forming them. However, the need is getting stronger. So, we’re seeing even more creative collaborations. With organizations needing to do more with less, that often means relying more and more on volunteers. While there never quite seem to be enough, our Main Streets are finding great ways to find them, including incorporating students into their programs. While Michigan does not yet have an official Junior Main Street program, I’m confident we’ll have one in the next few years. In the mean time, students still play a major role in Main Street. From the high school football team helping to set up Iron Mountain’s ItalianFest to the German Club helping to set up Old Town Oktoberfest, students are making an impact in their community. And, who could forget the award-winning Clare Pride Day with 400+ students covering the town in good deeds. Plus, with a number of colleges and high schools requiring community service hours, an ideal partnership is formed!
Now, we all know that partnerships are not always seamless and can often be quite trying (think marriage: the ultimate partnership.) While most partnerships are not life-long, it is important that you enter into things with a clear understanding of the others' expectations. Different people and organizations have different priorities and ways of doing things. However, in order to succeed in Main Street or any other partnership, concessions must be made and the group must come to an agreement before taking action. Make sure that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined (which is easily achieved in a proper work plan,) and that expectations are realistic. If you think a partner is willing to take on 50% of the responsibility for a project in exchange for 50% of the benefits, be sure to clarify that before entering into the partnership. What’s common sense to you may not be to others. Once clear roles, responsibilities and expectations are in place, great things can happen.
So, with those things in mind, head on out there, find those with similar goals and let the partnerships begin!