Encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs is a hot topic in economic development, and I’d like to start a series on it here at Small Biz Survival.
Most of you are involved either in a small business, or in economic development in one form or another, so I’d like to start with you. Do you have an opinion or a story to share? Here’s the kind of thing I’m looking for:
- From towns, cities and other local governments: Specific actions you’ve taken to encourage entrepreneurship,
- From organizations: Programs you’ve carried out, including training, workshops, events, etc., to support entrepreneurship.
- From entrepreneurs: What helped you start your business? Or what could have been done to make things easier for you? Did your town make you feel wanted?
Be sure to tell us about the results you’ve had. Success and failure stories are both welcome, since we can learn from both.
You can comment here, email me, Tweet me, Facebook me… what ever works for you. I want to hear your stories!
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
I am devoting my life to supporting and growing small business in this country. We have programs in place to fund business organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and industry specific organizations that support and defend business. We are just now launching these programs and look forward to working with any organization who may be interested in financial help via partnership opportunities with our firm. There is no cost to the organizations and the benefits are sizable. These programs also provide significant benefits and leverage to any size business anywhere in the US and even abroad. We are currently working with 4000 businesses in 6 countries. We are planning on reaching out and helping upwards of one million businesses in the next ten years.
Vantage, that sounds interesting. Please do us a favor, and list your name, and your position with Vantage. (I know these facts are obvious to you, but we don’t know them yet.)
Sorry about not including this information originally.
My name is Brad Versteegh.
I am one of the original founders of Vantage Barter Exchange.
Vantage Barter Exchange is a community where creative entrepreneurs engage in a pure value exchange to gain economic freedom.
What would have helped when I got started was free lectures in basic things like accounting, or inspirational meetups. Have a bi-weekly “entrepreneurial meetup” would’ve been good both to network and to share experiences.
Brad, thanks for adding that. Helps me know who I’m talking to.
Stormhierta/Andreas, I love the idea of entrepreneurial meetups. I’ve thought of starting that here in Alva, Oklahoma, but I’m not sure we can get enough folks to keep it going.
It’s great to see that we’re in good company!
I wanted to share a great coaching/networking event that I found. I went to a business coaching seminar with Brad Sugars and they had great discussions about using the recession to your advantage. The coaches have a ton of experience and can give some pointers that really do work. I paid for my tickets to go to the event, but there’s a site that is giving them out for free, and I think the events are being held all over the country. http://coachmybusiness.net. It’s through Action Coach. I definitely got a lot out of it and I think your readers would too!
I think small towns leave too much potential untapped in the form of the student population that inhabits the classrooms of their public schools.
Where else to better nurture the future of small business than in the hallways, and home rooms of the small towns future leaders?
Moscreative, thanks for the link.
Nick, you are right on target! If small towns want to retain more young people AND grow more entrepreneurial businesses, it makes sense to do both at the same time.
nice!