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Building Entrepreneurial Communities 2016

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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No Vacancy – Sign of a City Transformed

In May, I traveled up to Rockford, Illinois to visit family. While I was there I was invited by past clients and students from my Creating the Creative Business class to stop downtown and check out some of their new and/or expanding creative businesses. I honestly was not prepared for the...
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UNLEASHING DOWNTOWN AURORA'S CREATIVE ECONOMY

On February 25, 2016, I presented Developing a Creative Economy at Northern Illinois University's day-long workshop - Creative Enterprises & Downtown Prosperity. Following is an article written by the Editor of the Downtown Auroran Magazine on Feb. 26, 2016 about the presentation and...
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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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NEED FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS

I received this comment from Ken Cadow a high school teacher and administrator in Vermont. The comment was in response to my most recent post on the closing of SBDC centers across Illinois. Ken poses some interesting thoughts for us. If you would like to respond to Ken's comment or wish additional...
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IS IT GOODBYE FOR THE ILLINOIS SBDC?

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are shutting down in Illinois at an alarming rate. Three centers have closed in the South Central Illinois region leaving 22 counties without any affordable business plan development, counseling assistance, or business research services for small businesses...
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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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