The blog
Field writing, by the team doing the work.
Reflections, strategy notes, and practical pieces from SourceLink practitioners.
Network news
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...
Ecosystem Building
Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship
On Thursday, April 21, SourceLink hosted Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship, a webinar on strategies for growing rural communities through entrepreneurship-led economic development. The session was moderated by SourceLink’s director...
Ecosystem Building
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...
Network news
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation - March 17, 2022
All things SourceLink was the theme of our March 17 SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation. We announced new projects including: ChiBizHub website redesign, Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) – Evergreen BizLink,...
Ecosystem Building
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...
Ecosystem Building
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...
Ecosystem Building
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...
Ecosystem Building
These blogs deserve an encore
In our commitment to entrepreneurship-led economic development, we’ve made it our practice to regularly share insights and lessons learned while celebrating success stories along the way. It is our hope...
Network news
A Year of Resilience: Cheers to 2021
You don’t always appreciate what you have until it’s gone. After collectively witnessing many of our main street and small businesses across the country close in 2020, there arose a...
Network news
Reflecting on 2021 and reimagining 2022
Our final SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation of the year was packed with great information and fun. First, we congratulated affiliates selected to participate in the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program...
Research & Impact
How collective data and storytelling can lead to lasting impact for underserved entrepreneurs
For the better part of the last decade, our field has greatly evolved. The concept of building networks of support, or what has sometimes been referred to as, forging “entrepreneurial...
Entrepreneurship
Rallying for rural entrepreneurship: addressing the challenges that face rural small businesses
I grew up in a small town in north Iowa—Cedar Falls, to be exact. During my tenure with the local University I worked with economic developers all across Iowa, from...