The Blog
Entrepreneurship.
Field writing from SourceLink practitioners on Entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship
How America’s Public Libraries Nurture Entrepreneurship
Libraries are the unsung heroes of entrepreneurship, offering essential resources and programs to equip innovators and business leaders with the tools they need to succeed. These public learning institutions transform into collaborative arenas filled with entrepreneurs ready to take their businesses off the ground. All you need is a library card to access an entrepreneurial toolbox...
Feb 09, 2023
Ecosystem Building
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...
Oct 14, 2022
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 of strategic partnerships, Dara Macan, and panelists included: Nathan Ohle – President and CEO, International Economic Development Council Nicole LaChapelle – Mayor, Easthampton, MA Don...
May 04, 2022
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 Sioux City to Davenport and a great many small but mighty communities in-between: Grinnell, Parkersburg, Webster City and Lamoni to name a few. I consulted...
Dec 01, 2021
Entrepreneurship
SourceLink + National League of Cities – Impacting Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities
SourceLink®, the National League of Cities (NLC) and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation are pleased to announce the results of recent efforts to advance entrepreneurial development in Kankakee and Belvidere, Illinois. Both communities recently participated in NLC’s City Innovation Ecosystems (CIE) program, offered in partnership with and support from the Kauffman Foundation. The initiative asks...
Aug 09, 2021
Entrepreneurship
How to Support and Champion LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs
The ins and outs of starting a business are challenging to any aspiring entrepreneur but are even harder to overcome for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. While there’s much to celebrate about milestones achieved for the LGBTQ+ community, there’s still much more work to do in the business world for LGBTQ+ equality. Although a 2020 Supreme Court ruling nationally outlawed employee firings based on gender or sexual orientation, it is still legal in 27 states to be...
Jul 08, 2021
Entrepreneurship
Women entrepreneurs find success despite lack of access to investment capital
Throughout history there are numerous success stories of female entrepreneurs, yet women continue to face a number of challenges when starting and growing their businesses. From Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a former slave who ran a prosperous dressmaking business that eventually led to her designing and sewing dresses for Mary Todd Lincoln, to Anne Wojcicki, founder...
Apr 14, 2021
Entrepreneurship
How to Build an Inclusive Entrepreneurial Community
While creating a diverse ecosystem that supports diverse entrepreneurs is emerging as an important economic development strategy, many communities struggle with how to create an environment that truly fosters inclusivity. Hear from minority entrepreneurs, and those who work with them, ways that you can foster inclusivity and diversity in your entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Mar 02, 2021
Entrepreneurship
SourceLink Commits to Innovation In Key Partnership with NLC
Innovation is never born in a silo, and solutions are always meant to be shared. That’s precisely the philosophy behind the City Innovation Ecosystems program from the National League of Cities. At SourceLink, we are proud to continue to support the NLC's NIE program and have gained commitments from three new cities to become actively engaged in the program to right resource inequality and drive innovation across the country.
Feb 10, 2021
Entrepreneurship
How to Make Your Entrepreneurship Events More Accessible and Inclusive
As we continue to work toward a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem, we can improve our outreach to people with disabilities.
Jan 24, 2019
Entrepreneurship
Connecting Rural Entrepreneurs to Business-Building Resources in Northwest Missouri
Northwest Missouri is taking a step to grow entrepreneurship in the rural 18-county region, by making deliberate, strategic and intentional efforts to connect entrepreneurs and grow entrepreneurship.
Jun 20, 2018
Entrepreneurship
Bridging the Entrepreneurship Gap in Urban and Rural Communities
Creating inclusivity and breaking down the barriers to entrepreneurship in urban and rural communities is part of a long-term economic development strategy. Here's how to support your entrepreneurs and make sure your community is a better place to live and grow.
Jun 11, 2018