Page 277 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

266 Scott Loveridge

Kauffman, Edward Lowe, and Kellogg, have models for improved entrepre-
neurial support systems and are eager to share them.
20. Does the community help entrepreneurs understand finance, recordkeeping,
and government regulations (Muske and Woods 2004)? Keeping abreast of
these basic challenges in running a business can be difficult in the start-up
or growth phases of the enterprise. Timely interventions can avoid situa-
tions that put a business in jeopardy.
21. Are regulations favorable for start-ups, expansions, and transitions (Licht-
enstein, Lyons, and Kutzhanova 2004; Warner and Weiss Daugherty 2004)?
Many business frustrations involve permitting and zoning practices. Making
sure that these requirements are as clear and simple as possible can greatly
assist businesses. This is an area where an ombudsman can work effectively
to help untangle and streamline local permitting processes. It should be
pointed out that loosening regulations is often not what is needed. Making
regulations easy to understand and processing requests quickly are often
enough.
22. Are local regulations applied fairly and consistently (Warner and Weiss
Daugherty 2004)? Haphazard application of local regulations can reduce
morale on the part of the affected businesses, causing them to abandon
plans for expansion or to contact other communities for a new location. It
is especially galling to existing businesses to see nonlocal competitors of-
fered relaxed local regulations or tax breaks as part of an attraction package.

Training and Mentoring Systems
23. Do activities focus on entrepreneurs or businesses (Dabson, chapter 2;
Lichtenstein, Lyons, and Kutzhanova 2004; Muske and Woods 2004)? It is
important to focus on developing the capacities of entrepreneurs because
businesses may come or go depending on factors beyond the control of a
community. If a business opportunity fades, a high capacity entrepreneur
will switch to creating jobs in another way. Focusing on building the ca-
pacity of entrepreneurs is therefore more likely to pay off in the long run.
24. Is sufficient attention given to increasing the supply of entrepreneurs? Does
the community reject the “entrepreneurs are born not made” attitude toward en-
trepreneurial development (Dabson, chapter 2; Kayne, chapter 8; Lichtenstein,
Lyons, and Kutzhanova 2004; Lyons, Lichtenstein, and Kutzhanova, chap-
ter 5; Rosenfeld 2000)? A region needs a steady supply of entrepreneurs to
succeed. Communities must seek the next generation of entrepreneurs
through networks and mentoring. Lyons, Lichtenstein, and Kutzhanova
(chapter 5) provide a powerful set of arguments against assuming that some
people are born with innate entrepreneurial ability.
25. Does the educational system support entrepreneurship (Emery, Wall, and
Macke 2004; Hanham, Loveridge, and Richardson 1991; Kayne, chapter 8;