On October 15, 2003, University of Illinois Extension hosted a roundtable that brought together representatives of state and federal government, regional economic development agencies, utility companies, the community college system, and universities.

Our purpose was to discuss ways that communities could build support systems that encourage the growth of entrepreneurs as a tool for local economic development.

The responses from the participants, listed below, may help you create local policies that support entrepreneurs.

• Information – Entrepreneurs and the systems that support them need real time information, easy and fast. We need to create a network among entrepreneurs to build community support. We need to provide information to community leaders to encourage and facilitate their support of entrepreneurs.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit – People who teach entrepreneurship, and community leaders, should have a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit.

• Linkages –We need to create an environment that creates linkages between business, organizations, agencies, and other resources.

• Barriers– Illinois is a hot-bed of young entrepreneurs on college campuses; we need policies and programs that keep them in Illinois. We also need to remove policies and processes that discourage business startups.

• Structure of economic development planning –local economic developers and community leaders need to see entrepreneurial development as a vital tool to improving the economy.

• Community systems- communities don't create entrepreneurs, they provide infrastructure that helps entrepreneurs thrive. Local officials and community leaders need information about supports needed by entrepreneurs. We need to support public/private partnerships in communities.

- Jeri Marxman, Extension Specialist, Public Policy

Fairs, festivals and special events are big business in many communities. Community leaders are realizing the potential of tourism as part of an economic development strategy and financial support base for community development.

Special events provide opportunities for communities to showcase their assets, preserve local culture, develop community pride and spirit, and market the communities to potential residents and businesses. Since 1992, University of Illinois Extension has worked with Regional Tourism Development Councils, Convention and Visitors Bureaus, the Illinois Special Events Network, and a variety of other groups and institutions to offer training workshops for festival managers and volunteers. The majority of workshops are held in late winter. A local steering committee works with staff of these agencies to plan the workshop to meet area needs.

An in-depth survey shared descriptions of changes that have taken place as a result of attending these workshops. Below are participants' comments about how they used the information from the sessions:

• Have a much more organized event.
• We learned to work with event planners of nearby communities to jointly promote events held on the same day.
• Have used knowledge gained to write several successful grants.
• Opportunity to network with other event organizers
• Learn about resources available to assist them and share success stories.

For information about upcoming workshops, contact your local Extension office or a Community and Economic Development Extension Educator.

- Ruby Lingle, Extension Specialist Program Evaluation

http://www.mfai.org/organic_matter_budgeting.htm
Organic matter budgeting for farmers – replacement of nutrients is vital to soil

http://www.mrsc.org/finance/budgets/budgetbb.htm
Bibliography on local government budgeting

http://www.ilcma.org/
Illinois City/County Management Assn.

http://www.rupri.org/circ/index.html
Community Informatics Resource Center

http://www.goshen.edu/soan/soan96cd.htm
Lists many links to community development sites on the internet.

The University of Illinois and its Extension do not promote or embrace the views of any of the mentioned websites, they are given as a point for the reader to explore the issue.

- Amy L.H. Heilveil