Second Stage – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem
Source Link
MAY 30, 2025
The post Second Stage – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem appeared first on SourceLink.
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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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Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship
Source Link
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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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
Source Link
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
Source Link
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
These blogs deserve an encore
Source Link
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 ?
Source Link
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
Source Link
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
Source Link
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
Source Link
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
Source Link
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, BizLink Orange!
Source Link
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
Source Link
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
Source Link
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.
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
Source Link
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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The challenges of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship — and resources to help
Source Link
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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Latest Update on the SBA Community Navigator Funding Opportunity
Source Link
JUNE 8, 2021
The SourceLink team has kept a close eye out for updates since the U.S. Small Business Administration first released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Community Navigator Pilot Program. The program aims to place significant financial resources into organizations that wish to be hubs or spokes of entrepreneurship support and ecosystem-building efforts in their communities—particularly those organizations with deep roots in targeting underserved communities.
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How to engage resource partners: continuing the conversation
Source Link
MAY 5, 2021
During our March Quarterly Conversation, affiliates discussed the challenges moving from individual entrepreneur support organizations to a collaborative, community-based model. The affiliates that joined the conversation in March wanted to learn more about engaging with the resource partners in their network, so SourceLink® set aside time in April to continue the conversation and address unanswered questions.
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Women entrepreneurs find success despite lack of access to investment capital
Source Link
APRIL 14, 2021
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 of genetic testing and analysis firm 23andMe, women have proved they have what it takes to reach the top of the entrepreneurial mountai
SBA Announces Community Navigator Model and Funding Opportunity
Source Link
MARCH 29, 2021
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the creation of a new Community Navigator Pilot Program to place significant financial resources into organizations that wish to be hubs of entrepreneurship support and ecosystem-building efforts in their communities—particularly those organizations with deep roots in targeting underserved business communities.
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Cities Should Think Creatively about Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building
Source Link
AUGUST 27, 2020
How do other cities build entrepreneurship? Alejandro Manzanares of the National League of Cities (NLC) shares insights from cities in its third cohort on establishing entrepreneurial seed funds, building innovative workforces and ecosystem mapping.
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Innovation-Led – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem
Source Link
NOVEMBER 12, 2024
The post Innovation-Led – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem appeared first on SourceLink.
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Spring Cleaning for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Developers
Source Link
MARCH 29, 2024
Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets and cobwebs.
Celebrating Our Partners in Entrepreneurship Support: The Small Business Development Center
Source Link
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
Source Link
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
Source Link
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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Revitalizing Your Resource Partner Network
Source Link
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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A Year of Resilience: Cheers to 2021
Source Link
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.
8 Proven Ways to Get the Word Out About Your SourceLink Network
Source Link
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
Source Link
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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Goals in Action: A Look Inside March’s Quarterly Conversation
Source Link
MARCH 30, 2021
After such a challenging year, we asked our affiliates at our December Quarterly Conversation to identify and prioritize what they’d like to accomplish in 2021. We then discussed their plans for achieving their goals at our March Quarterly Conversation. Identifying gaps, objectives and resources. SourceLink® emailed each affiliate a “Make a Plan: Take Action” worksheet a few weeks before meeting.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Insights: Insider Tips for Building Relationships with Foundations
Source Link
JUNE 3, 2019
Read these tips from foundation leaders on how entrepreneurship ecosystem builders can develop relationships with foundations that invest in community economic development.
Trailblazing Together: The Future of Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development
Source Link
DECEMBER 20, 2024
The post Trailblazing Together: The Future of Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development appeared first on SourceLink.
SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation December 2024
Source Link
DECEMBER 19, 2024
The post SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation December 2024 appeared first on SourceLink.
Main Street – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem
Source Link
JULY 30, 2024
The post Main Street – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem appeared first on SourceLink.
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SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation July 2024
Source Link
AUGUST 28, 2024
The post SourceLink Affiliate Quarterly Conversation July 2024 appeared first on SourceLink.
Driving Community Impact Through Entrepreneurial Collaboration
Source Link
OCTOBER 18, 2024
The post Driving Community Impact Through Entrepreneurial Collaboration appeared first on SourceLink.
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Microenterprises – Supporting the Types of Businesses in Your Ecosystem
Source Link
JUNE 5, 2024
This multi-part series offers ecosystem builders and economic developers insights into the characteristics of each business type and targeted strategies that help those businesses thrive.
Meet Us in Kansas City! October 22-24, 2024
Source Link
APRIL 30, 2024
As we plan our next in-person gathering at the e.Builders Forum, we wanted to reflect on the shared experiences and knowledge gathered from 2023.
An Eclipse-Inspired Approach to Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development
Source Link
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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Impact Storytelling for Effective Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development
Source Link
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
Source Link
DECEMBER 19, 2023
It’s a wrap, 2023! 2023 proved to be a productive year with an impressive list of accomplishments.
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