Blogs

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Successful Entrepreneurs Benefit Us All

Those who follow economic trends frequently look at entrepreneurial activity as an indicator of economic health. While opinions vary on the current health of entrepreneurship in the U.S. and around the world, there is agreement on the importance of this business sector. Economists applaud the job...
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CAN ARTS DRIVE RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

Can arts drive rural economic development? This is a question that I continue to ask myself as I expand Developing the Creative Economy (DCE) that will be presented next in Greenville, IL on February 2, 2017. As some of you are aware, the DCE program is based in part on the work...
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NEW STUDY PUBLISHED ON COMMUNITY SUPPORTED ENTERPRISES

Recently Norman Walzer and Jessica Sandoval from the Center for Government Studies at Northern Illinois University in consultation with David Ivan from Michigan State University and Greg Wise from the University of Wisconsin-Extension published a paper on the Emergence and Growth of Community...
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Designing a Resilient Downtown

Farmington recently participated in a North Central Regional Center for Rural Development study exploring factors related to a community's success in creating a resilient and vibrant downtown. This project will provide local economic development and business leaders with information to support...
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THE IMPACT OF COLLEGE GRADUATES ON LOCAL ECONOMIES

How important is it for college grads to return to rural communities? The other day I was looking for some information on the impact that increasing educational attainment levels have on a community. Rural communities are having difficulties retaining and attracting youth and I wanted to be able to...
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Alton Illinois Creative Economy Video

Alton Illinois is moving along with its plans to build a creative economy. Check out their video published on YouTube August 16th and learn more about the process. Sara McGibany, Executive Director of Alton's MainStreet gives you an overview of their progress. Alton Main Street-Creative...
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