Recently, I was asked by a Downtown Redevelopment Corporation to look at their downtown redevelopment plan and give them my thoughts on why after so much effort their vacancy rate was still so high. Actually, I currently live in the community so I had been thinking about this issue for quite some...

A recent report released by Lieutenant Governor Sanquinetti, leader of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council stresses the importance of including entrepreneurs in innovative economic development planning for rural communities. The report Rural Illinois: New Challenges, New Opportunities...

Not every entrepreneurial idea is transferable to every community, but it is always nice to at least consider the possibilities. For that reason I'm suggesting you think about multiple businesses occupying the same space…I've decided to call it a Co-BIZ! The example I saw, that seemed to be working...

In a study done by the Prepared U Project at Bentley University it was shown that up to 70% of Millennials would like to own a business of their own and up to 17% already own a small business. Millennials - ages 19-32 - are definitely the "entrepreneurial generation". They enjoy being creative and...

Throughout the Midwest, there are examles of thriving central business districts.  Through a literature review, conducted in partnership with University of Illinois Department of Urban and Regional Planning graduate research assistant, extension educators and specialists were able to identify...

Taking stock of the community's resources to support entrepreneurship growth and development is a critical element to creating a proactive environment for business development. Local Economic Development Organizations can take proactive approach to assisting existing and prospective business owners...

Most of us know (but if you didn't) that a strong buy local campaign is crucial to developing an Entrepreneurial Culture in a community. Just in time for the holidays, Jennifer Russell, Community & Economic Development Educator in Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Scott and Cass counties has an...