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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
