Get the Skills & Connections You Need to Grow
The Main Street America Small Business Hub Provides Free Training & Networking for Small-Scale Producers
Ebenezer Akakpo, owner of Akakpo Design Group and Maine Culture in Westbrook, Maine. © Michael D. Wilson
Making great products is one thing. Growing a sustainable business is another.
At Main Street America, we believe that supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and small-scale development builds community wealth and creates meaningful investment in communities. Through both Made Originals and the Main Street America Small Business Hub, we’re working to equip small business owners with tools, resources, and opportunities to build stronger and more resilient local economies.
While Made Originals is focused primarily on helping small-scale producers and makers scale to larger audiences, the MSA Small Business Hub is a central location for all small business owners to connect, learn, and grow together.
The completely free platform provides a space for entrepreneurs to engage with a community of likeminded business owners, an ever-growing suite of self-led courses led by industry experts, and a large directory of trusted resources from across sectors and disciplines.
What You Get:
Expert Business Training
Access free in-depth learning journeys and short-form courses on topics that matter to small-scale producers:
Revenue growth strategies
E-commerce fundamentals
Crowdfunding and capital access
Disaster preparedness
Marketing and storytelling
Business planning and scaling
Peer-to-Peer Connection
You are specifically invited to join the Small-Scale Production Discussion Forum where you can learn from and gain insights from other Main Street makers.
Engage with a community of small business owners where you can share insights, ask questions, and grow together.
Get Started
If you’re a small-scale producer or local maker, or interested in becoming one, we invite you to join the MSA Small Business Hub to get free, learn-at-your-own pace courses and resources along with networking opportunities with peers from around the country. Here’s how to get started.
Click “Sign Up” in the top-right corner.
Follow the sign-up prompts.
Use Code: DMW75RW
Check your email for a confirmation email.
Open the email from Main Street America and click “Verify Your Email.”
A new browsing tab will open. Click “Verify.”
From there, you’ll be prompted to fill out an Onboarding Form.
Be sure to select that you are a small-scale producer, manufacturer, or creator, and describe your product!
Under “My Interests”, be sure to select the topic “Small-Scale Production”. This way, you’ll get information and updates on all new content for this topic area.
In downtown Laramie, Wyoming, a worker sews bags and apparel at Atmosphere Mountainworks. © Katie Powell