The Blog
Ecosystem Building.
Field writing from SourceLink practitioners on Ecosystem Building.
Economic Development
Spring Cleaning for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Developers
Spring cleaning isn't just for closets and cobwebs. Entrepreneurial ecosystems are dynamic, and as they evolve, regular reevaluation—or "spring cleaning"—becomes essential to foster innovation, optimize resources, enhance competitiveness, and ensure sustained growth. Regular reevaluation is not merely about decluttering; it allows ecosystems to stay in sync with the changing business landscape and ensure their infrastructure...
Mar 29, 2024
Ecosystem Building
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation - March 2024
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation Recap General Announcements Rob Williams, SourceLink Director, started our March 7 SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation with several announcements. The National Urban League 2024 State of Black America report is out and has a clear call which resonates: “Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity and Defeat Poverty.” Building on this topic, we believe...
Mar 27, 2024
Economic Development
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Measurement Part 4: Strategic Reporting
This four-part series addresses why tracking and measuring the activity of your entrepreneurial ecosystem is crucial to its long-term sustainability and the economic success of your community. Part 1 of this series covers why measurement is important, Part 2 discusses what to measure, Part 3 provided insights into how to measure, and Part 4 delves...
Feb 24, 2024
Ecosystem Building
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Measurement Part 3: How to Measure
This four-part series addresses why tracking and measuring the activity of your entrepreneurial ecosystem is crucial to its long-term sustainability and the economic success of your community. Part 1 of this series covers why measurement is important, Part 2 discusses what to measure, Part 3 provides insights into how to measure, and Part 4 delves...
Jan 17, 2024
Economic Development
Hands, Head, and Heart: Professional Development Opportunities for those in Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development and Ecosystem Building
When I started this work almost 20 years ago, very few entrepreneurship-led economic development, much less ecosystem building, resources or institutions existed for early practitioners to be able to tap into. Today, the environment is so much more robust, and frankly, exciting! From international associations picking up the mantle of entrepreneurship-led economic development to grassroots...
Nov 13, 2023
Economic Development
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation – September 2023
SourceLink Continues to Grow, Adding New Staff and Affiliates Welcome to our new SourceLink staff member, Solomon Lee. Solomon will serve as a project manager and brings considerable expertise to our team. Prior to joining SourceLink, Solomon was with Louisiana Economic Development, where he helped implement the Louisiana Business Hub platform statewide and across multiple...
Oct 24, 2023
Ecosystem Building
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation - June 2023
SourceLink Network News Rob kicked off our June SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation with exciting news from our network affiliates. NWI BizHub in Northwest Indiana received a grant from the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) and MicroEnterprise of Inland SoCal received the 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, a rating for nonprofit agencies...
Jul 21, 2023
Economic Development
Celebrating Small Business Week: How to Champion Entrepreneurs Today and All Yearlong
In honor of National Small Business Week, we’re celebrating the unique and enterprising spirit of entrepreneurs who contribute to our communities. Created by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) over 50 years ago, the event is co-hosted by SCORE and shines a spotlight on the innovation and hard work that goes into building a successful...
Apr 23, 2023
Ecosystem Building
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...
Apr 14, 2023
Ecosystem Building
Celebrating Our Partners in Entrepreneurship Support: The Small Business Development Center
When it comes to supporting entrepreneurs at any stage in their business journey, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been a critical resource since 1980. Since its inception, the SBDC has grown to over 1,000 centers across the nation with its mission to offer “no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing...
Mar 23, 2023
Economic Development
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...
Jan 18, 2023
Ecosystem Building
SourceLink 2023: On the Verge of a Renaissance
One of my favorite end of the year activities is to fire up YouTube and watch the previous year in search video. This last one so beautifully mirrored what I have personally felt and heard from our affiliates that I just had to share. Drum roll, please… the most searched term of 2022 was, “can...
Dec 19, 2022