The Multimedia Peer Center (MPC) is an online resource center designed to help state SBO/SBEAPs that want to become multimedia programs or want to improve their programs' multimedia services. 

History of the National Steering Committee, Multimedia Subcommittee and Multimedia Peer Center
What does multimedia assistance mean?
How can I use the online Multimedia Peer Center?
How can my program become a MPC mentor program?

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History of the National Steering Committee, Multimedia Subcommittee and Multimedia Peer Center

The overall mission of the NSC Multimedia Subcommittee is to explore the status of multimedia assistance throughout the SBO/SBAP network, develop a definition of that assistance, and consider development of resources to help programs with this issue.   As part of this mission, in 2003 the subcommittee developed a number of questions as part of an online survey ("SBAP/Multimedia Survey") to find out what the programs are already doing with respect to multimedia environmental assistance and what is meant by the term multimedia assistance.  The survey results showed that SBO/SBAP staff overwhelmingly agreed with our definition of multimedia assistance developed as part of the survey (see definition below).  Survey results were analyzed and members considered the best ways to develop resources to help programs with multimedia issues.  Subcommittee meeting/call minutes, subcommittee member list, and other information about the subcommittee can be found at:  www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/NSC/Subcommittees/multimedia.aspx. To view the 2003 survey results in a searchable database, go to www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/SharingInformation/surveys/multimedia03.aspx.

As a result of the survey results and other feedback regarding SBAP goals to move toward multimedia assistance across the country, the subcommittee has continued its work.  In order to further assist programs in becoming multimedia if they want to do so, the subcommittee is undertaking the creation of this Multimedia Peer Center, a mentoring program to enable programs offering some type of multimedia assistance to help others in their goals.   

What does multimedia assistance mean?

Multimedia assistance means environmental assistance (compliance and beyond) to reduce threats to our air, land, and water.

How can I use the online Multimedia Peer Center?

You can use the MPC by:  1) browsing mentor programs--click on each state program name on the Complete List of MPC Mentor Programs page to find responses to the MPC mentor program questionnaire, or 2) use the Search MPC Mentor Programs database to find programs matching the following criteria:

• Type of MPC mentor assistance being offered (Search by: information on this web page only, telephone/email assistance, program visits, training, all, other)
• Type of multimedia assistance offered (Search by: air, hazardous waste, solid waste, water quality, all, other)
• How multimedia assistance is provided (Search by: referrals to appropriate regulatory media staff, through personal contact with resources outside the program, through internal expertise, all)
• Type of expertise available inside the program (Search by: pollution prevention/EMS and environmental compliance expertise, environmental compliance expertise only)
• Where programs are housed (Search by: inside a regulatory agency's air office, inside a regulatory agency/outside the air office, outside a regulatory agency)
• Types of funding sources (Search by: air permit fees only, air permit fees plus other sources, task-specific funding; other)

How can my small business ombudsman/small business environmental assistance program (SBO/SBEAP) become a MPC mentor program?

If your program meets the definition of having multimedia assistance available and you are willing to share information about your program, then you may be able to help.  Go to MPC Mentor Program Questions and answer those questions.  Send your responses to Dave Fiedler (fiedlerd@michigan.gov), Michigan DEQ Environmental Science and Services Division, Multimedia Subcommittee Chair, SBO-SBEAP National Steering Committee.  Your program can become a MPC mentor program if you provide some amount of multimedia assistance, and will do at least one of the following:  allow your MPC Questions to be posted on the web page, provide telephone and/or email assistance to other programs, allow program visits to your location, provide training to other programs, or are willing to provide other types of assistance.  Call Dave at 517/373-0607 if you have any questions or comments.