Author: Dara Macan
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Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Connections, Resources & Support
Did you know that 42% of U.S. companies are owned by women? With nearly 13 million women-led businesses, they are making their mark on the entrepreneurial scene, claiming ownership of four out of every ten enterprises. Despite being the driving force behind numerous small businesses, there is still a need for support systems that foster […]
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National League of Cities Webinar Features Entrepreneur Focused Economic Development Solutions
Exciting conversations are happening in the economic development world! Thanks to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Center for City Solutions, supporters and visionaries can come together to explore groundbreaking ways of assessing citywide economic development in a webinar series. Through these webinars, thought leaders and dynamic guest speakers share innovative approaches they use to […]
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Four ways to promote inclusive communities where Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs can thrive
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs’ contributions to communities and local economies across the country. Hispanic and Latino-owned businesses employ millions of people and generate over $700 billion in revenue each year. They create widespread impact on society by providing jobs, serving as mentors, and keeping traditions alive, all […]
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Engaging in local community innovation: SourceLink continues partnership with the National League of Cities to build thriving entrepreneurship ecosystems
Communities across the country are working together to build thriving cities in the global, innovation-driven economy as part of the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program from the National League of Cities (NLC). Today, we’re excited to celebrate the third cohort of communities committed to advancing their communities through entrepreneurship. SourceLinkSM proudly serves as an official […]
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Top 5 Questions from Communities Considering Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building
As an entrepreneurship ecosystem builder and national network connector, I have the opportunity to speak to a variety of people and organizations–such as economic developers, ecosystem builders, government leaders and entrepreneurs–interested in improving the economic success of their communities by supporting entrepreneurs. While these communities vary in location, size and resources, I often hear recurring […]
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The future of entrepreneurship in economic development: An update on the EDP certification
Last year, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) supported the development of a new professional certification for the field in partnership with SourceLink and the International Economic Development Council. The Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) certification course is a first-of-its-kind accreditation that offers knowledge and tools for developing and implementing […]
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Revitalizing Your Resource Partner Network
Spring is a season of growth and new beginnings that often leads to a renewed sense of energy and motivation. If you’re feeling like your entrepreneurial ecosystem engagement has been dormant, you’re not alone. During the pandemic, many ecosystem builders have felt challenged maintaining meaningful engagement with their network. As we enter the second quarter […]
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3 new ways to empower your entrepreneurial community
In 2017, we shared 3 ways to empower your entrepreneurial community. While those tips are still relevant, the pandemic and heightened awareness about the importance of building equitable and inclusive ecosystems has surfaced new challenges. Here are some additional recommendations for empowering your network in 2022. 1. Make your ecosystem inclusive. Racial wealth disparity is […]
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Strategies to sustain your entrepreneurial ecosystem
We are experiencing unprecedented opportunities for communities to evaluate how best to respond to short-term needs while building resilient solutions for long-term success. While it might be tempting to jump right in, it’s important to take the time to evaluate successful outcomes and develop a strategy to achieve your goals. Entrepreneurs are key contributors to […]
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New Year, New Entrepreneurs: Five tips for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs
Every January, the number of people who Google “how to start a business” jumps to hundreds of searches a day. This year in particular, many of these searches are coming from the millions of Americans who quit their jobs in 2021. While starting a business is a common new year’s resolution, soon-to-be entrepreneurs make the […]