Page 240 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

Energizing Entrepreneurs: Lessons from the Field 229

Jurisdictional Groups
Many national associations address entrepreneurship, and groups such as
the National Governors Association, National Association of Development
Organizations, and the Appalachian Regional Commission have all done
excellent work and provide valuable resources for communities. The fol-
lowing groups have especially useful materials:

• AEO—Association for Enterprise Opportunity (www.microenterprise-
works.org)
• NBIA—National Business Incubation Association (www.nbia.org)
• SBA/SBDCs—U.S. Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov/) and
your state’s Small Business Development Centers (www.asbdc-us.org/)

Contact information for these and other resources is available on the Na-
tional Center Website listed above (www.energizingentrepreneurs.org).

Think Tanks
Many research organizations and foundations have picked up the entre-
preneurship call. Four organizations deserve special attention:

1 The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City
2 The Edward Lowe Foundation of Michigan
3 CFED (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development)
4 The W. K. Kellogg Foundation of Michigan

Again, contact information can be found on the National Center’s Web-
site (www.energizingentrepreneurs.org). For information on youth entre-
preneurship, a special resource page on the Web can provide guidance.

Resources Closer to Home
Chances are that many resources to help in launching entrepreneurship ef-
forts exist closer to home. Contacts with the regional or state Small Business
Development Center, Cooperative Extension, regional universities or colleges
and/or state economic development agencies can be very helpful. Likewise,
many utilities and trade groups, such as financial institutions, can also help.
Entrepreneurship may represent the most profitable basis for develop-
ment in the twenty-first century. Communities seeking to explore ways for
entrepreneurship to make a difference in the local economy and society are
strongly advised to do their homework. Invest time and money exploring
research and gaining a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurship can