Page 58 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

What’s Culture Got to Do with It? 47

other bills were signed into law that directly reflected conference outcomes
(U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy 2005).
Symbolic diversity is also achieved by welcoming fresh voices, especially
those of the young, artisans, teachers, healthcare workers, and entrepre-
neurs. Some researchers argue that communities are likely to become more
prosperous if they welcome diverse viewpoints and become a haven for cre-
ative workers (Florida 2002). One study suggests that natural resource
amenities such as hiking trails, water sports, hunting, and fishing as well as
a cluster of arts, humanities, and educational opportunities provide the cre-
ative juices to attract entrepreneurs and other innovators (McGranahan and
Wojan 2006).
Welcoming fresh and diverse perspectives can be part of stimulating an
entrepreneurial culture. Take the case of Palestine, a small municipality in
southern Illinois. Their economic development dream includes encourag-
ing all residents to enjoy and experience the arts; stimulating cooperation
among artists, patrons, and enthusiasts; and promoting the development of
individual artists. The Palestine Artists Relocation Project (2006) is an at-
tempt to attract artists of all genres to the city. Those artists eligible for re-
location can benefit from commercial and historical sites, a co-op art
gallery, access to Websites, revolving loan funds, and other incentives. The
artist relocation initiative complements other economic development ap-
proaches.

STRATEGY 3. MOBILIZE RESOURCES
FOR ENTREPRENEURS

Resource mobilization is a key aspect of an entrepreneurial social infra-
structure. Rural America is faced with slow growing or decreasing real in-
comes and a decreasing tax base in some instances, and they are increas-
ingly being asked to rely on their own resources for rural development and
entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is facilitated when communities can
share some of the entrepreneurs’ risks in the form of money, space, com-
munications, and equipment. Entrepreneurial communities are willing to
commit funds, through additional taxes or reallocation, to provide the
physical or human capital resources for entrepreneurs to succeed.
The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Economic Development Au-
thority in Georgia created 240 additional jobs in 1 year through an entre-
preneurial initiative. They saw the region in an economic slump, ques-
tioned the Chamber of Commerce’s role, and made changes. First, they
worked with county leaders to start a new entrepreneur and small business
program. They prepared a How to Start and Grow a Business publication,
which was available electronically and in print. To make it clear that the