Celebrating Economic Development Week 2023

Throughout the course of American history, the meaning and purpose of the phrase ‘economic development’ has changed and evolved. The California Association for Local Economic Development describes our current use of economic development clearly and succinctly: “Economic Development is the creation of wealth from which community benefits are realized. […]...

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How your community can support microenterprise growth

By definition, microenterprises are businesses that require less than $35,000 in capitalization to start and have fewer than ten employees. Most are focused on the owner’s personal expertise—consulting, design, lawn care—and may not require a physical location. Microenterprises—both online and brick and mortar— represent about 77% of overall businesses in...

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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...

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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 Leadership Project, SBA Community Navigators Pilot Project and welcomed new clients and affiliates: Monroe County – Launch 734,...

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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...

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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...

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Year in Review: Building Entrepreneurial Communities in the Middle

Entrepreneurs don't just live on the coasts. The opportunity to shape ideas and solve problems lives anywhere and everywhere. Here's how SourceLink affiliates in the Middle—Albuquerque, Des Moines, St. Louis, in southeast Michigan, across the state of Kansas and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico—are building their entrepreneurial infrastructure.

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