Economic development in the next generation will require "less time hunting" and "more time nurturing entrepreneurs," a nationally-recognized expert told a Southern Illinois group assembled this morning by State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Jack Schultz, founder and leader of the Boomtown Institute, shared insights he has gained helping small towns in 44 states compete for their piece of the economic pie against larger communities.Economic Development staff from Columbia joined representatives from Waterloo, Red Bud, and Valmeyer in attending the all-day workshop at Rend Lake Resort where various programs for financing businesses and supporting local community development efforts were explained in detail by the members of the Treasurer's staff responsible for administering them. Among the programs detailed at the workshop were the following:
- Community Planning & Development Assistance
- Economic Opportunity Programs
- Small Business Development Centers
- Tax Credits
- Tax Incentives
- Tax Increment Financing
Schultz urged attendees to recognize that if entrepreneurism "has not been a town’s focus, then it’s time for a paradigm shift." He contends that the Millenial generation will be "the greatest group of entrepreneurs in American history." Towns that recognize the strength of the entrepreneur and learn to encourage him or her, he claims, will find themselves on a positive growth curve.
No comments:
Post a Comment