Page 43 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

32 Brian Dabson

Local opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as biking, hiking, skiing,
water sports, hunting, or fishing, can be strong magnets for talent. In addi-
tion, Creative Class members in rural locations tend to be somewhat older
than their counterparts in metropolitan hubs and are interested in ensuring
good quality educational opportunities for their children. Nevertheless, the
evidence from the McGranahan and Wojan (2006) study also shows that it
is the higher density rural areas that are the most attractive because high lev-
els of social interaction and a degree of diversity are still important.
The implication appears to be that only some well-endowed rural regions
will benefit from entrepreneurial activity leading to economic growth and
competitiveness. There seems to be some basis for cautious optimism com-
ing from practical, on-the-ground experience, however, which over time
must be confirmed by rigorous research.
The Central Appalachian Network’s (2005) report on sustainable entre-
preneurship cited earlier focused much emphasis on Appalachia’s natural
assets and the heritage of the people and the place:

Natural capital entrepreneurship is based on the sustainable use of forests,
farmland, rivers, lakes and mountains of our region. Organic and niche crops,
ecotourism, wood products made from sustainable harvested timber, and non-
timber forest products such as ginseng are all products of entrepreneurship
based on natural capital. Placed-based entrepreneurship draws on the beauty
and heritage of our region through development of traditional crafts, music,
foods, and natural treasures such as historic bed and breakfasts. (31)

The report goes on to provide evidence of the income generation that
flows from these activities and to reinforce the point that these natural as-
sets are the region’s competitive advantage. Similar messages are contained
in an Association for Enterprise Opportunity report (Keiser and Herd
2003), which resulted from a two-year Rural Microenterprise Successful
Practices Project examining what improves effectiveness and impact. The
project focused on entrepreneurial development in the food, tourism, and
artisan sectors and concluded, among other things, that collaboration and
innovation go hand in hand in successful entrepreneurial rural communi-
ties. Again, the entrepreneurial opportunities arose from an understanding
and valuing of available rural assets.
Many ideas and approaches were generated by the previously mentioned
Kellogg Foundation project, including unusual partnerships among institu-
tions that rarely, if ever, work together. Nearly 40 collaboratives were led by
universities or community colleges reaching out to communities and other
agencies to offer the possibility of the transfer of skills and technologies
across rural regions. Some included major research and development facil-
ities such as NASA in New Mexico and the National Surface Warfare Center
in Indiana. Others focused on facilitating entrepreneurship and innovation