ED Now

Libraries across the U.S. provide entrepreneur support resources of all kinds, from workshops to networking opportunities to market research. Working with a local library is a good way for small business owners to get the help they need—and a good way for EDOs to enhance the reach and impact of their economic development efforts.

Each new year brings new leadership to IEDC’s board of directors. Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, will serve as IEDC’s board chair in 2024.

Dell Gines, CEcD, PhD, will be joining IEDC as vice president of partnerships, advisory services, and thought leadership effective March 6. Gines’ work in economic development and entrepreneurship at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is renowned, and he brings a collaborative spirit to this important role. Gines is a national thought leader in economic development and entrepreneurial ecosystem building. At the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City his specific focus has been on communities of color and small, economically distressed rural communities. He has authored six guides and one e-book on the subject. His most notable work is a 2018 research report on Black women-owned startups which has been cited by PBS, Forbes, Black ...

Public libraries across the United States have the opportunity to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs in their communities—especially for underserved populations—according to a July report from the American Library Association (ALA). The report follows the conclusion of the two-year Libraries Build Business (LBB) initiative from ALA. The LBB program funded a cohort of 13 public libraries that established programming and resources for entrepreneurs in their communities. In the regions where it was piloted, the program was a huge success—even though it took place entirely during the pandemic. A survey of small business owners who engaged with LBB programming found that two-thirds of respondents would be “very ...

IEDC’s recently released white paper What We’ve Learned From Covid-19 contains best practices for EDOs looking to build their resilience to pandemics and other disasters. The paper is one component of a larger project funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the culmination of 18 months tracking the pandemic responses of eight communities.

IEDC board member and former restaurant owner SeonAh Kendall has worked in public service for more than 10 years, and is currently senior economic manager for the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. Kendall recently talked to ED Now about building transformational relationships, addressing language and cultural barriers, finding your voice, asking for help, focusing on communities, fostering a sense of belonging, and resetting our goals.

At the start of the pandemic, the Pierce County (Wash.) Economic Development Department quickly pivoted its focus to assist small businesses that were struggling to survive. Those efforts resulted in effective and efficient distribution of $46.5 million in CARES Act funding to thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs of which 76 percent were BIPOC-, women-, and veteran-owned. More than 99 percent of these resources went to direct business support and more than 90 percent of applications were approved. By leveraging existing networks in the community, the department was able to provide information and resources to many businesses we would not normally have reached. However, recovery is showing us there is much more to do. In ...

Like in most cities, many small businesses in Atlanta suffered economic setbacks and challenges from COVID-19 that left doors closed and many workers at home. Despite the encouraging signs of increased business activity and lower unemployment reports from Georgia’s Department of Labor, many small business owners are still struggling to regain their footing and operate at pre-pandemic levels, particularly in communities of color where economic recovery has been uneven. Invest Atlanta (IA) believes that economic prosperity and competitiveness start with equity for all Atlantans. Under the leadership of Atlanta’s mayor and with the support of City Council, IA is executing a landmark Economic Mobility, Recovery, and Resiliency ...