SoS Checklist Demo – SPARK Scorecard 2025

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10 Elements of a Strong Ecosystem for Small-Scale Manufacturing Businesses

We all want downtown people love. We want more good paying jobs and more local entrepreneurs. We want to fill storefronts and bring people together. But what are we doing about it? If you’re ready to act, your first step is to complete the Spark Scorecard. See how you score and get new ideas to act on today. Are you investing in small-scale manufacturing? How do you measure up against other places creating great downtowns with thriving local businesses? Find out and get moving.

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1Intro

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4Wrap Up

Before we begin, tell us a little about yourself.

Name*

First

Email*

Bring together local entrepreneurs

Goal: Small-scale manufacturing businesses exist in every community and in every population. By bringing together a community of business owners who reflect the demographics of the community, future programs will build off a broad economic base that benefits everyone.

Many community leaders (SPARKs!) struggle to identify business owners from every part of the population. Find community Connectors who will help you bring together small-scale manufacturing businesses and ensure more successful programs for everyone. Make sure to also identify the product business owners who reflect your local history and culture to help your economy stand out.

Bring together local entreprenuers

Question 1 of 3*

We have a group of people who help lead our business outreach and programming — these people reflect the demographics and culture of our community.

Yes

Bring together local entreprenuers

Question 2 of 3*

We have a growing group of small product businesses with a focus on people and places not involved in the past and we understand their needs.

Yes

Bring together local entreprenuers

Question 3 of 3*

We have an organized database of small-scale manufacturing businesses with an emphasis on community members not included in the past. We understand the different needs of different populations and different product type businesses.

Yes

Bring together local entreprenuers

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Launch Introductory Trainings for Product-Based Businesses

Goal: Small-scale manufacturing businesses are often highly accessible business types for entrepreneurs because making things is part of every culture and community. Yet many people are not familiar with this sector and its potential to build household wealth. Short, introductory programs about this business type are one way to quickly expand access and make sure more people understand what this might mean for them, their income, and their community.

Launch Introductory Trainings for Product-Based Businesses

Question 1 of 3*

Our existing startup training programs mention small-scale manufacturing as a business type, but don’t go into detail.

Yes

Launch Introductory Trainings for Product-Based Businesses

Question 2 of 3*

We have a 1-2 day bootcamp program that introduces people to the fundamentals of starting a small-scale manufacturing business.

Yes

Launch Introductory Trainings for Product-Based Businesses

Question 3 of 3*

Our bootcamp is strong and we host it in neighborhoods or rural areas in partnership with community leaders not involved in the past.

Yes

Launch Introductory Trainings for Product-Based Businesses

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Establish Startup Programs for Product-Based Businesses

Goal: Startups need help understanding many details of how to be a resilient and sustainable business. Small product businesses – part-time artisans who are ready to be more established, food product businesses ready to launch, and hardware inventors – all need that kind of structured support. Many of these programs use techniques from the tech sector to help entrepreneurs launch product-based businesses with a successful plan and a researched product. Bringing a group of entrepreneurs together, along with targeted training and sector-specific mentors, all increase their likelihood of success.

Establish Startup Programs for Product-Based Businesses

Question 1 of 3*

We have a group-based (cohort) startup training program for non-software businesses, but it is not specific to small-scale manufacturing needs.

Yes

Establish Startup Programs for Product-Based Businesses

Question 2 of 3*

We have small-scale manufacturing mentors available to participants in our local startup program.

Yes

Establish Startup Programs for Product-Based Businesses

Question 3 of 3*

We have a multi-session startup training program for small-scale manufacturing (extra points if you host it in neighborhoods or towns not included in the past) with access to mentors from their sector.

Yes

Establish Startup Programs for Product-Based Businesses

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Help Product Businesses Scale in Revenue and Profit

Goal: Most established businesses do not have any support to help them scale from one to five or five to twenty employees, or any support to grow their revenues and profit while staying local. Yet access to this kind of expertise is essential for business growth and long-term success. The programs might focus on scalability of the product, distribution efficiencies, supply chain solutions, financing and access to capital, or machining and technology. A business growth program specific to small-scale manufacturing’s unique needs can cement the sector’s stability and growth.

Help Product Businesses Scale in Revenue and Profit

Question 1 of 3*

We have a group (cohort) business growth program to help local business owners scale, but it is not specific to small-scale manufacturing.

Yes

Help Product Businesses Scale in Revenue and Profit

Question 2 of 3*

We have a cohort-based business development program specific to helping small-scale manufacturing businesses grow.

Yes

Help Product Businesses Scale in Revenue and Profit

Question 3 of 3*

We have growth programs to help small-scale manufacturing businesses scale, with mentors from their vertical (product type), distribution and procurement support, and a focus on historically excluded places.

Yes

Help Product Businesses Scale in Revenue and Profit

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Finance Business Growth from Startup to Scale-Up

Goal: Many businesses need financing to purchase their first major piece of equipment or to scale up to the next production size or automation. They need to produce more products to afford the equipment but cannot do so without the larger equipment. Low-cost loans and micro-grants can help these businesses scale-up and stay within the community. Oftentimes, banks will not provide loans to small product businesses because they are not familiar with the sector and deem it “high risk” based on their lack of knowledge. This need is particularly urgent in areas where “friends and family” are not available as investors for a business launch or growth.

Finance Business Growth from Startup to Scale-Up

Question 1 of 3*

We have financing programs, from the jurisdiction, a locally owned bank, or CDFI, that actively support small businesses, but we’re not sure if they successfully support small-scale manufacturing.

Yes

Finance Business Growth from Startup to Scale-Up

Question 2 of 3*

We provide micro-grants to small product business owners to help them launch or begin to scale.

Yes

Finance Business Growth from Startup to Scale-Up

Question 3 of 3*

We actively work with our local partners (the jurisdiction’s small business loan fund, a locally owned bank, or a CDFI) to provide low-cost loans to product businesses to help them scale and be resilient.

Yes

Finance Business Growth from Startup to Scale-Up

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Secure Commercial and Light Industrial Space in Target Locations

Goal: Many small-scale manufacturing businesses need smaller storefronts and light industrial production spaces than traditional manufacturing or retail users, and they often struggle to find affordable well-sized spaces. Yet, these businesses are key to bringing foot traffic and energy to a target location and creating good-paying jobs in the community. Small product businesses can fill vacant storefronts and bring energy to downtown. They build up entrepreneurship in the community and deter brain drain. Local policies, investment priorities, and public-private partnerships are essential factors to secure the real estate these businesses need.

Secure Commercial and Light Industrial Space in Target Locations

Question 1 of 3*

Our storefronts are only available to small-scale manufacturing with a time-intensive waiver from our zoning department or local council.

Yes

Secure Commercial and Light Industrial Space in Target Locations

Question 2 of 3*

Our storefronts and urban industrial buildings allow artisan manufacturing or small production businesses by-right and the permitting office is prepared to approve this use.

Yes

Secure Commercial and Light Industrial Space in Target Locations

Question 3 of 3*

Our community has invested in property to provide affordable commercial space to local small-scale manufacturing businesses for the long-term. (This could be property owned by the jurisdiction, a non-profit, a public-private partnership, or zoning incentive with oversight.)

Yes

Secure Commercial and Light Industrial Space in Target Locations

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Finance a Loan Fund for Businesses to Purchase Commercial Real Estate

Goal: Successful small-scale producers may be “the first in” on a neighborhood block in need of energy and attention. These businesses enliven a street and often attract investment. Yet they are also regularly displaced as a neighborhood gets “hot” and leases increase in cost. Real estate investment models can help successful business owners purchase their buildings before major external investment occurs. This helps to ensure they can control the cost of their space, be the landlord for other producers, and benefit from the increase in value of the property in the future.

Finance a Loan Fund for Businesses to Purchase Commercial Real Estate

Question 1 of 3*

We have city/town staff available to support any business owner interested in purchasing commercial property and have successfully shepherded projects through to a purchase.

Yes

Finance a Loan Fund for Businesses to Purchase Commercial Real Estate

Question 2 of 3*

We provide a low-cost loan to help local business owners cover pre-development costs as they purchase a commercial property.

Yes

Finance a Loan Fund for Businesses to Purchase Commercial Real Estate

Question 3 of 3*

We provide financing, training, and matchmaking to successful small product businesses to help them purchase commercial property in their neighborhood.

Yes

Finance a Loan Fund for Businesses to Purchase Commercial Real Estate

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Showcase the Stories of Your Product Business Owners

Goal: The best way to promote the success of businesses in your community is to tell everyone about it. It brings more investment to those businesses, gives the community a great thing to brag about, and attracts more of those entrepreneurs to the community. Also – everyone loves to copy success. Showcase your successes regionally and on the national stage through blog posts, social media, and the press. Tell the stories of your amazing business owners and their successes to create more robust economic growth. Help your local product businesses reach marketing on the national stage.

Showcase the Stories of Your Product Business Owners

Question 1 of 3*

We share news of our local businesses when they make it into the press on their own.

Yes

Showcase the Stories of Your Product Business Owners

Question 2 of 3*

We create news articles and stories about our local producers during holiday markets to promote the events.

Yes

Showcase the Stories of Your Product Business Owners

Question 3 of 3*

We create stories and images of our local producers through social media, emails, and press on a monthly basis, and actively work to expand our reach and market this sector nationally.

Yes

Showcase the Stories of Your Product Business Owners

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Invest in Momentum by Building Your Small Business Infrastructure

Goal: We need to invest in building momentum for the long haul to show more people in the community that they can launch these startups and to attract more small-scale manufacturing businesses to the community. So how can we keep the party going? It is about consistency, execution, and action. It is about building the systems behind the programming. The work needs to be “owned” by someone or a specific network or organization and integrated into workplans.

Invest in Momentum by Building Your Small Business Infrastructure

Question 1 of 3*

We have an email list for small-scale manufacturing business owners and an easy web platform for more people to sign up for the list.

Yes

Invest in Momentum by Building Your Small Business Infrastructure

Question 2 of 3*

We work with local entrepreneurs to host a quarterly meet-up for this sector at a local business space to share resources and provide support.

Yes

Invest in Momentum by Building Your Small Business Infrastructure

Question 3 of 3*

We have a local branding initiative and website dedicated to our small-scale manufacturing community with a directory of local businesses and a space to promote and share our programming and incubator space for this sector.

Yes

Invest in Momentum by Building Your Small Business Infrastructure

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Adopt Local Priorities Specific to Small-Scale Manufacturing

Goal: Every business sector needs a business support system to work toward its success and a lasting policy structure to support future investments. The sector needs its champions to attract investment, get local policies in place to support its growth, and help businesses scale-up over time while staying local. Small-scale manufacturing is no different. Local leaders need to integrate the sector into the standard economic development strategy and establish a new table to make sure the voices of these business owners are heard.

Adopt Local Priorities Specific to Small-Scale Manufacturing

Question 1 of 3*

The jurisdiction hosts a small-scale manufacturing business owner advisory council that provides input on local policies and helps to convene this sector.

Yes

Adopt Local Priorities Specific to Small-Scale Manufacturing

Question 2 of 3*

Local procurement policies commit to a minimum of 20% purchase power to local products.

Yes

Adopt Local Priorities Specific to Small-Scale Manufacturing

Question 3 of 3*

Small-scale manufacturing is a priority to the economic development authority and identified in the comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for future investment.

Yes

Adopt Local Priorities Specific to Small-Scale Manufacturing

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Pick Your Priorities

You answered the questions for the 10 elements of the SPARK scorecard! Now, take a look at all ten recommended actions, and pick your top 3 to start right now. Once you select your priorities, we’ll pull it all together into your SPARK Score and your full action report!

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Final Score

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Here are all the action items we identified today.*

Which items would you like to focus on first? (Select 3)

Tell us what community or neighborhood you’re describing here so we can personalize your final results:*

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