An Eclipse-Inspired Approach to Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development
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APRIL 23, 2024
Earlier this week I was fortunate to have the incredible experience of watching the solar eclipse with my family and close friends.
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SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation – March 2024
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MARCH 27, 2024
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation Recap General Announcements Rob Williams, SourceLink Director, started our March 7 SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation, with several announcements.
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Spring Cleaning for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Developers
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MARCH 29, 2024
Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets and cobwebs.
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Measurement Part 4: Strategic Reporting
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FEBRUARY 24, 2024
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.
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Measurement Part 3: How to Measure
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JANUARY 17, 2024
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.
Impact Storytelling for Effective Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development
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DECEMBER 21, 2023
A lot is changing in the world of entrepreneurship-led economic development; from utilizing AI to increase capacity to a multitude of professional development opportunities.
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation – December 2023
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DECEMBER 19, 2023
It’s a wrap, 2023! 2023 proved to be a productive year with an impressive list of accomplishments.
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Measurement Part 2: What to Measure
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NOVEMBER 15, 2023
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.
Hands, Head, and Heart: Professional Development Opportunities for those in Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development and Ecosystem Building
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NOVEMBER 13, 2023
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 […]
Rob Williams and Mark Burdette earn the International Economic Development Council Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) Credential
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NOVEMBER 8, 2023
Kansas City, MO – November 6, 2023 – SourceLink℠ is pleased to offer congratulations to all the International Development Council’s (IEDC) 2023 Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) credential recipients, including SourceLink’s […]
Understanding Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Measurement
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OCTOBER 23, 2023
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.
Celebrating Economic Development Week 2023
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MAY 8, 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. […] It’s an investment in growing […] The post Celebrating Economic Development Week 2023 appeared first on SourceLink.
SourceLink? Affiliate Quarterly Conversation – October 2022
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OCTOBER 24, 2022
Change is Beautiful As SourceLink director, Rob Williams pointed out at our recent Affiliate Quarterly Conversation, along with the change in seasons, this fall brings change to the SourceLink network as well. New employment opportunities brought change to our staff and the people we work with. We have seen this at SourceLink and among our […] The post SourceLink℠ Affiliate Quarterly Conversation – October 2022 appeared first on SourceLink.
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SourceLink? Affiliate Quarterly Conversation – December 2022
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DECEMBER 19, 2022
Looking Back SourceLink director, Rob Williams summarized exciting events from 2022 at our final SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation of the year. We welcomed Dana Masters, Business Development Communications Specialist at SourceLink! Dana will be working with Dara to develop outreach communications with our affiliates, social media and marketing activities as well as business development.
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SourceLink 2023: On the Verge of a Renaissance
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DECEMBER 19, 2022
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 […] The post SourceLink 2023: On the Verge of a Renaissance appeared first on SourceLink.
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National League of Cities Webinar Features Entrepreneur Focused Economic Development Solutions
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JANUARY 18, 2023
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 […] The post National League of Cities Webinar Features Entrepreneur Focused Economic Development Sol
How America’s Public Libraries Nurture Entrepreneurship
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FEBRUARY 9, 2023
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 […] The post How America’s Public Libraries Nurture Entrepreneurship appeared first on SourceLink.
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Let’s Talk: Why Broadband is Critical Infrastructure for Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development
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FEBRUARY 17, 2023
Access to affordable high-speed broadband is increasingly a top priority for economic and community development leaders. According to national research from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center, a whopping 93% of today’s small business owners use at least one type of technology platform to help them with their business. It’s compelling evidence to […] The post Let’s Talk: Why Broadband is Critical Infrastructure for Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development appeared fi
Celebrating Our Partners in Entrepreneurship Support: The Small Business Development Center
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MARCH 23, 2023
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 […] The post Celebrating Our Partners in Entrepreneurship Support: The Small Business Development Center appeared first on SourceLink.
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Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Connections, Resources & Support
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APRIL 14, 2023
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 […] The post Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Connections, Resources & Support appeared first on SourceLink.
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Celebrating Small Business Week: How to Champion Entrepreneurs Today and All Yearlong
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APRIL 23, 2023
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 […] The post Celebrating Small Business Week: How to Champion Entrepreneurs Today and All Yearlong appeared first on SourceLink.
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Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship
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MAY 10, 2022
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.
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Revitalizing Your Resource Partner Network
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APRIL 20, 2022
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 of 2022, in-person events are increasing, significant government-funded recovery efforts are underway, and there is a renewed confidence i
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SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation - March 17, 2022
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APRIL 1, 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 , Oakland County, MI – Business Forward Oakland County , Louisiana Economic Development , BioKansas - KC Rising Biologi
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3 new ways to empower your entrepreneurial community
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MARCH 30, 2022
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.
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Strategies to sustain your entrepreneurial ecosystem
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FEBRUARY 23, 2022
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 job creation and economic stability, so your long-term strategy should include ways to support their success by building effective en
A Year of Resilience: Cheers to 2021
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JANUARY 29, 2022
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 new sense of appreciation for the value entrepreneurs bring to our communities and our economy. In 2021, we saw new programs and funding opportunities from the EDA and SBA to rebuild, sustain and grow entrepreneurship.
These blogs deserve an encore
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JANUARY 29, 2022
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 that by delivering this content, we will start conversations, spark collaboration and ultimately make a positive impact in advancing equitable entrepreneurship across the country.
New Year, New Entrepreneurs: Five tips for supporting early-stage entrepreneurs ?
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JANUARY 29, 2022
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 leap for a variety of reasons.
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Reflecting on 2021 and reimagining 2022
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DECEMBER 15, 2021
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 including National Urban League , Nicolet Area Technical College , New Bedford Economic Council , Rochester Economic Development Corporation and Forward Cities.
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How collective data and storytelling can lead to lasting impact for underserved entrepreneurs
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DECEMBER 7, 2021
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 ecosystems”, has been a key focus for many advancing the idea that innovation and entrepreneurship will be the future of not just our recovery- but the necessary inclusive pathway for economic advancement and wealth building for all.
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Rallying for rural entrepreneurship: addressing the challenges that face rural small businesses
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DECEMBER 1, 2021
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 and trained dozens of local economic developers on entrepreneurship ecosystem building efforts, developing a unique understanding of the stereotypes and challenges associated with
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Five Tips for SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program Awardees
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NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Congratulations to all the grantees awarded funds to participate in the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program. You are embarking on work that is critical to building back inclusive and more resilient communities. We are excited to see so many in our SourceLink? network become hubs and/or spokes, and eager for this program roll out as it mirrors our own philosophy of building collaborative networks of entrepreneurship and small business owner support.
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Welcome, SourceLink Nebraska!
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NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in Nebraska now have access to a premier network of interconnected support resources that spans the 76,878 square mile state. It is with great pride and excitement that we welcome our newest SourceLink? affiliate, SourceLink Nebraska ! Start where you are. From inception to implementation, ecosystem building can be a complex process, and it does not happen overnight.
How to Amplify Your Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Message
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NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Creating strong inclusive ecosystems of support for entrepreneurs is key to a community’s economic success, however sharing collective impact can be challenging. In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week , SourceLink’s Dara Macan and Rob Williams recruited a panel of local ecosystem builders in Fort Worth, Texas, northern Louisiana, Iowa, and Puerto Rico to share valuable communication tips and strategies in this interactive webinar.
Welcome, BizLink Orange!
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NOVEMBER 8, 2021
Today marks the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week, an annual initiative that shines a light not only on the value entrepreneurs bring to our communities and global economy, but also the importance of building infrastructures that make it easier for them to start and scale their businesses. SourceLink? partners with over 60 different communities across the country to do just that, and we are thrilled to announce that our network has grown this week to Orlando, Florida.
The entrepreneur in all of us – How COVID revealed gaps and opportunities in the entrepreneurial landscape
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OCTOBER 26, 2021
Entrepreneurs are a hardy breed. They’re used to overcoming challenges and quickly pivoting, and at no time in recent history has the world needed those qualities more. While the circumstances of the last 20 months have been challenging, those with an entrepreneurial mindset have adapted to overcome each successive obstacle. Even large companies have begun to recognize the value in thinking entrepreneurially.
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Join the International Celebration of Makers, Innovators and Job Creators November 8-14
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OCTOBER 13, 2021
Business closures and job losses caused by the pandemic forced thousands of people to reevaluate their lives and career paths. Individuals who had never considered launching a startup began creating businesses out of a combination of necessity and opportunity. According to data from the Census Bureau , Americans filed paperwork to start 4.3 million businesses last year, a 24 percent increase from the year before.
Measuring Data and Creating Impactful Economic Reports
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OCTOBER 5, 2021
Data captured from the small businesses supported by SourceLink® affiliate organizations provides valuable information for our network to report to their community stakeholders. At our recent SourceLink Quarterly Conversation on September 23, three affiliates shared their best practices in collecting and reporting impactful insights. Tracking and supporting job creation.
SourceLink + The IEDC: New Certification Program Uniting Economic Developers and Entrepreneurs
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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
The last two years have witnessed a boom in entrepreneurial activity like never before. According to 2021 data from the Census Bureau , Americans filed paperwork to start 4.3 million businesses last year in spite of the economic recession — a 24 percent uptick from the previous year, and the most in a decade and a half, according to The New York Times.
SourceLink + National League of Cities – Impacting Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities
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AUGUST 9, 2021
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.
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8 Proven Ways to Get the Word Out About Your SourceLink Network
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JULY 30, 2021
Affiliates agree that getting the word out about their SourceLink networks to entrepreneurs and business owners is one of their highest priorities. To support our affiliates, we’ve recently held three virtual discussions on marketing in March, May and July. The basics. In May, Abby Smith and Jessica Toms from CruxKC , SourceLink’s marketing partner, guided our discussion on how to build a successful marketing plan.
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Register Now: EDA American Rescue Plan Funding Opportunities
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JULY 26, 2021
Last week, EDA announced six programs to equitably invest $3 billion allocated under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. (Click here to read the press release). The EDA will be holding “EDA 101 and American Rescue Plan Overview” webinars this week at 3 p.m. ET on July 27 and 3 p.m. ET on July 29. The programs aim to assist communities in their efforts to build back better by accelerating the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient t
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The challenges of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship — and resources to help
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JULY 8, 2021
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 fired for identifying as LGBT.
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