Regional Development
and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building
Over the decades e2 has worked throughout North America. We observed that rural communities who partnered with strong regional development organizations had more robust and successful economic development.

This month, we share a new podcast episode, Regional Development and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building. We also share our companion strategy guide, Regional Development, A Likely Entrepreneurial Development Opportunity. The episode and paper detail how regional development organizations are fostering community ecosystem building and operation. In both we showcase our best-in-class examples of what we call our "top-down" and "bottom-up" entrepreneurial ecosystem building strategy. Find out where these regions are located!

We also encourage you to read Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building in Rural America – Four Decades of Learning. This paper provides an historic overview of entrepreneurial ecosystem building and why developing a regional strategy is important.
Don Macke
Other e2 News
The Kauffman Foundation’s
Heartland Initiative
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation was founded by entrepreneur, Marion Kauffman, who created and grew Marion Laboratories in Kansas City where the Foundation is now headquartered. Marion Laboratories (1950-1996) was a highly successful pharmaceutical company that is now owned by Marion Merrell Dow. Kansas City is the “big city” anchoring a region that includes the four states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. The Foundation’s Heartland Initiative focuses on growing America’s most entrepreneurial region with strategic investments in these four states. Our Pathways to Rural Prosperity Podcast episode with Chris Harris, Kauffman Senior Program Officer, shares information on this exciting new Foundation initiative.
GRO Resources and Media - Growing Rural Oregon (GRO)
Working with e2 and NetWork Kansas, GRO has launched a new website and development framework to support rural Oregon rural entrepreneurs to build more prosperous and resilient communities. Check it out!
Rural Entrepreneurial Ventures (REV) Success
Spring Valley, MN continues to REVitalize! Spring Valley, a town of 2,500, saw new businesses open and existing businesses expand during the pandemic. Chris Hahn from (CEDA) Community and Economic Development Associates shares how the community's participation in SMIF's Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) program has played a part in the entrepreneurial activity of this small town over the past three years. More Info.
Field News
Additional Regional Development Resources. For those interested in our feature topic, check out the following resources: The Role of Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) in Economic Development and Identifying Regional Economic Development Stakeholders.

Resiliency is More Important than Ever. Individual, venture, community, economy, and society resiliency is more important today than ever before. Over time, we have been tested with both opportunities and challenges. Most recently the World Health Pandemic, as well as increasing indicators of climate change, are two front-of-mind trends crying for greater resiliency on all fronts. Our friends at Headwater Economies have developed a Rural Capacity Map and resource that can help your region and community learn more about your resiliency. 

Right to Start Northwest Arkansas video. Check out this video highlighting the fast-growing region of Northwest Arkansas and its ongoing efforts of its entrepreneurs and policymakers.

USDA Unveils Resource Guide to Help Rural Entrepreneurs Start and Grow Businesses, Create Good-Paying Jobs and Strengthen America’s Economy. The guide features info on how rural entrepreneurs can use USDA and other Federal programs to access financing and other tools.
Events
Networked for Change Conference, April 1, 2022, Wichita, KS. Registration is now open for this in-person event aimed at creating awareness of community development resources and connecting Kansans with them. INFO.

Building Rural Communities Through Entrepreneurship, a SourceLink℠ webinar on Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m. CT. including panelists Nathan Ohle, IEDC; Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, Easthampton, MA; Don Macke, e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems; Rob Williams, SourceLink. INFO.

Radically Rural Summit, September 21-22, 2022, is a virtual and in-person event, showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship in the beautiful Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. This summit draws hundreds of registrants from across the U.S. Learn More.