Page 22 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

Introduction and Overview 11

a shared vision and a systems thinking approach. Examples of communities
or regions that have effectively used these strategies or practices are pro-
vided.

Focus on Youth
There is no disagreement about the importance of youth in the future of
rural areas but it is increasingly difficult to attract high school graduates and
young adults back to their home communities as differentials in wages and
economic opportunities between urban and rural areas widen. Successful
entrepreneurship strategies can be an effective strategy to retaining and/or
attracting youth.
Entrepreneurship development offers several opportunities to help slow
the loss of youth and integrate them more fully into the future of rural ar-
eas. If students become interested in starting businesses, they will invest in
their community and, at the same time, provide employment opportunities
for peers. This commitment enhances the likelihood that they will remain
in the community as adults.
Past studies have shown a strong interest among students in owning a
business (Gallup Organization and NCREE 1994). All too often, because of
other pressures on the curriculum and a shortage of resources, schools have
not focused on entrepreneurship or business ownership as a career choice;
instead, they prepare students for higher education and careers not readily
available in rural areas. Fortunately, programs that can prepare students for
entrepreneurship exist and there is considerable evidence of programs such
as REAL that have taken root with positive results.
Two chapters are devoted to the role that education plays in preparing en-
trepreneurs, especially youth, and successful ways in involving youth in en-
trepreneurship activities. Schroeder (chapter 8) describes ways communities
across the United States have fostered youth entrepreneurship. He also dis-
cusses the setting or climate in a community that encourages students to en-
gage and succeed in these efforts, followed by best practices to illustrate these
approaches. An important message is the need for an integrated youth entre-
preneurship development strategy that engages students, equips them to un-
dertake entrepreneurial efforts, and then supports their efforts and outcomes.
Since a major issue in designing local entrepreneurship development ini-
tiatives involves identifying potential entrepreneurs and motivating them,
Kayne (chapter 9) describes the basic practices and principles involved in
designing programs to attract youth. A main point is that students should
be introduced to entrepreneurship skills in their educational pursuits, as
early as in elementary school. This approach, rather than focusing on busi-
ness involvement per se, should recognize, foster, and reward student cre-
ativity in a variety of ways.