Towns + Cities Making Entrepreneurial Strides

Session Description

Entrepreneurial ecosystems aren’t just built in tech hubs—they thrive in counties, cities, and towns led by local champions. This session brings together dynamic leaders who are proving that bold, local action can drive national change.

In this panel, experts will share how municipalities, civic organizations, and local business communities are working together to cultivate entrepreneurial growth from the ground up.

Participants will walk away with:

• real-world examples of local programs driving startup creation and growth;
• lessons on building inclusive ecosystems outside of major urban centers;
• insights into how public-private collaboration can unlock local talent and innovation; and
• strategies for scaling impact without relying solely on federal support.

Whether you’re a policymaker, ecosystem builder, or entrepreneur, this session offers a grounded look at how jurisdictions of any size can make big strides in entrepreneurship.

Session Recap

(AI-generated session recap made available by Google NotebookLM)

Dive into a compelling conversation with leaders from across the globe who are actively driving entrepreneurial growth and economic resilience in their communities. This dynamic panel explores innovative strategies, tackles challenges like population decline and industrial shifts, and highlights the power of collaboration in fostering thriving local economies. Listen to the full session to gain deeper insights into actionable approaches being implemented in cities and towns of all sizes.

1. Brief Summary
This session, moderated by Philip Gaskin, featured a diverse panel discussing how towns and cities are making entrepreneurial strides despite challenges such as declining populations and the disappearance of traditional industries like manufacturing. Panelists from Terre Haute, Indiana; the National League of Cities; Manizales, Colombia; and a regional area in Australia shared their experiences and strategies, emphasizing the critical role of entrepreneurship, collaboration, and inclusive ecosystem building in revitalizing communities and creating resilient economies. The discussion highlighted successful programs, the importance of supporting both startups and existing businesses, and the need to overcome bureaucratic barriers to foster growth.

2. Outline

Introduction

• Welcome, session theme, and panel introductions.

• Philip Gaskin introduces panelists: Marcela Escobar (Manizales, Colombia), Jo-Anne Kelly (Kempsey, Australia), Corianne Rice (National League of Cities), Dan Robison (Jackson County Chamber, Indiana), and Mayor Brandon Sakbun (Terre Haute, Indiana).

Terre Haute’s Challenges and Approach

• Mayor Sakbun discusses adapting to job loss from manufacturing decline.

• Focus on diversifying the economy, partnering with schools, and placemaking to attract population growth.

National League of Cities Perspective

• Corianne Rice discusses the evolution from traditional economic development to entrepreneur-led growth.

• Examples include supporting childcare providers in Jacksonville, FL, and housing-focused startups in Raleigh, NC.

Themes of Success

• Collaboration, listening, inclusion, and the importance of not going it alone are emphasized.

Manizales, Colombia’s Experience

• Marcela Escobar shares how a crisis sparked long-term entrepreneurship strategy via Manizales Más.

• Focus on helping small businesses scale and encouraging stakeholder collaboration.

Australia’s Stronger Places Initiative

• Jo-Anne Kelly discusses community-led systems change, flood recovery, and amplifying youth voices.

• Recognizing trauma and colonization’s impact as key to inclusive community building.

Sparking Rural Entrepreneurship in Indiana

• Dan Robison presents the Spark Initiative, supporting rural entrepreneurs through targeted programs and capital access.

• Highlights work with Latino entrepreneurs and efforts beyond youth competitions.

Democratizing Access to Resources

• Philip Gaskin encourages virtual, low-cost entrepreneurship services.

• Kaufman Fastrack cited as a good model.

Audience Contributions & Questions

• Flint, MI representative shares Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative (urbani.org) platform.

• Questions about acquisition entrepreneurship, supporting existing businesses, and changing closed community mindsets.

Panel Responses to Audience

• Mayor Sakbun: Local collaboration, streamlined messaging, focus on population and income growth.

• Marcela Escobar: Small wins and helping existing businesses build momentum.

• Corianne Rice: Equity in design, community champions, celebrating progress.

• On bureaucracy: Examples of collaboration across departments, including Serve Safe training and permit streamlining.

Closing Remarks

• Jo-Anne Kelly: "Grow your own" strategy, disaster recovery insights, appropriate language and tone.

• Philip Gaskin: Reflection on community activation and takeaways from Australia visit.

3. Notable Quotes

• “Effective ecosystems and entrepreneurship always involve good communication and collaboration.”

• “We are entrepreneurship and economic development because we want to lead communities in entrepreneurship to create those jobs. We truly believe that creating new businesses by entrepreneurs and supporting entrepreneurs is the best way to create the diversification of economic opportunity...”

• “So what we did was take them from here to here. And when we do that, we are doing two things. One, we're changing the culture because we are telling the already existing companies it’s possible to do it in this city. And the second one of course, we are increasing the income of those companies and making them grow...”

4. Key Takeaways

1. Collaboration is Essential: Bring together public, private, academic, and community stakeholders—no single actor can drive change alone.

2. Diversification Builds Resilience: Entrepreneurial economies are less vulnerable to industry shifts.

3. Support Existing Businesses: Don’t only focus on startups—scaling existing SMEs can drive immediate impact.

4. Overcome Bureaucracy: Simplify city processes and align departments through liaison roles or tech tools.

5. Prioritize Equity and Inclusion: Design programs that consider accessibility, location, and underrepresented voices.

6. Champion Small Wins: Early successes and visible local champions inspire broader momentum.

7. Explore Acquisition Entrepreneurship: Support entrepreneurs in taking over existing businesses as owners retire.

5. Resources Mentioned

• Gaskin Group – Strategic advisory for social investment and community development.

• Living Cities – Focused on reducing income and wealth inequality.

• National League of Cities (NLC) – Supports municipal leaders, including entrepreneurship programs.

• City Inclusive Entrepreneurship Program (NLC) – Active in 248+ cities over 5 years.

• Manizales Más – Colombian model of city-wide entrepreneurial collaboration.

• Stronger Places (Australia) – Systems change initiative amplifying local voices.

• Spark Initiative (Indiana) – Supports rural entrepreneurship, includes venture capital and co-working.

• Maverick Challenge – Youth entrepreneurship competition in Indiana.

• Spark Capital – Fund targeting rural Indiana entrepreneurs.

• Kaufman Foundation / Kaufman Fastrack – Free online entrepreneurship curriculum.

• Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative (urbani.org) – Global platform for urban innovation.

• Rose-Hulman Ventures – University-city partnership in Terre Haute for research and innovation.

• Union Health – Partnering with Terre Haute on medical research and workforce programs.

• Cities Work – Helps municipalities reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses.

• Serve Safe – Food certification course, highlighted in efforts to train food entrepreneurs.

6. Action Items
Panelists encouraged:

• Ongoing dialogue with speakers and attendees.

• Leveraging the session recording for deeper reflection.

• Pursuing local application of strategies shared.

• Building new connections with panelists and peers post-session.