Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Collaboration in Rural AmericaBrian Dabson, Rural Policy Research Institute

Statewide Rural Economic Vitality Conversation

Sacramento, CaliforniaApril 28, 2005

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Three EDS Lessons

Commitment, creativity, and resourcefulness across rural America

Key principles – systems, customer focus, regionalism, inclusiveness, effectiveness – accepted and embraced

Collaboration shows the way for rural America

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Economic Development Attraction

Persuading companies to come to your community

Retention Looking after what you already have

Entrepreneurship Growing your own jobs and wealth

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Economic Development Pyramid

Recruitment

Retention

Entrepreneurship

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Strategic Thinking

Attraction Competition

Narrow-mindedness

Retention Resistance to

change

Entrepreneurship Unprincipled

individualism

Collaboration

Stewardship

Creativity & Innovation

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Simple Definitions Entrepreneurs…people who create and

grow enterprises Entrepreneurship…the process through

which entrepreneurs create and grow enterprises.

Entrepreneurship development…the infrastructure of public and private policies and practices that foster and support entrepreneurship.

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What is an entrepreneur?

A person who organizes and manages a business undertaking, assuming the risk for the sake of the profit

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What is an entrepreneur?

Visionary entrepreneurs develop innovations, create jobs, and contribute to a more vibrant national and global economy

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Differing Motivations Survival entrepreneurs – resort to creating enterprises

because there are few other options Lifestyle entrepreneurs – choose self-employment to

pursue personal goals Growth entrepreneurs – motivated to grow their

businesses to create wealth and jobs in their community Serial entrepreneurs – over their lifetimes will create

several businesses

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What is entrepreneurship?

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Caveats to GEM Analysis

US 7th out of 31 countries in level of entrepreneurial activity but: Other countries in top 10 include

Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, China

Uneven distribution of activity across and within states holding back long-term competitiveness

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Four Principles

Focus on the entrepreneur Focus on the community Focus on the region Focus on continuous learning

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CAN Success Factors

Central Appalachian Network Asset-based Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Communities Investment in Innovation Regional Markets Regional Catalysts

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Rural Economic Vitality =

Innovation +Entrepreneurship+Collaboration

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For more information visit:Rural Policy Research Center

(RUPRI)www.rupri.org

RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

www.ruraleship.org