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Village Launch Builds Resilience Among Under-Resourced Entrepreneurs

As the City of Greenville, South Carolina experiences unprecedented growth, Village Launch ensures its more vulnerable populations aren’t left behind.

The city of Greenville is changing.

The South Carolina city is bringing in billions of dollars each year in investment, mostly brought in by high-profile economic development groups

April 30th, 2021|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies, Network|

Reaching Memphis’ Entrepreneurs: Epicenter Ensures Access for All

For many entrepreneurship hubs and economic development organizations, it can be surprisingly challenging to connect with the people they’re trying to help.

Epicenter Memphis faced this very problem—and their solution might surprise you.

Memphis, like many other American cities, has a bustling downtown. But there is often a disconnect between the […]

March 31st, 2021|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies, Network|

Reinventing Economic Development: Creatives As Entrepreneurs

Seven years ago, leaders of an arts organization in Birmingham, Alabama saw a serious opportunity to impact their local economy—but it meant reinventing themselves.

Originally established in 2004 as the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham, Create Birmingham is the only local agency focused on Birmingham’s creative industries. […]

February 24th, 2021|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies, Network|

Wheeling, West Virginia Made their Main Street Relevant with Entrepreneurship. Learn how Your Community can do the Same.

Read on to learn how Wheeling Heritage leveraged entrepreneurship to create more than 2,000 new jobs and reduce their building vacancy rate by half.

January 25th, 2021|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

The Businesses We Can Save

Let’s face the facts: COVID-19 has wrecked many small businesses. One of the saddest experiences of 2020 (aside from the sickness, heartbreak, and grief this pandemic has inflicted on us) has been walking along a street you used to know well—whether in a large city or a small town main street—and seeing the shutters. Craving a meal from […]

December 15th, 2020|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

From Florida to Colorado: Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Success Stories

On December 16th from 2:00-3:00 PM EST CO. STARTERS will host “Rethinking Economic Development: How SOAR is Training Entrepreneurs to Restart Eastern Kentucky”, a free webinar that will share how Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) is […]

December 8th, 2020|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

Creating Connections for Struggling Businesses through the Refocus Workshop

How Pasco EDC's SMARTstart used the CO.STARTERS Refocus business recovery workshop to reach unsupported entrepreneurs in their community and connect them to vital support.

Serving the Underserved: The Commons on Champa // Denver, Colorado

From providing a tech hub to those without access to technology, to workshops designed to engage female entrepreneurs, to offering our very own CO.STARTERS Core program to the city, The Commons on Champa truly embodies the CO.STARTERS mission.

March 18th, 2020|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

Addressing the Gaps: Auckland University of Technology // Auckland, New Zealand

Sabrina Nagel and the entrepreneurship team team at Auckland University of Technology are proving the value of CO.STARTERS for everyone—especially college students. Check out the work they’re doing.

March 3rd, 2020|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

Fighting for our Soldiers: Action Zone // Tampa, Florida

It can be extremely difficult for Veterans to find the support they need upon re-entering civilian life. Our friends at Action Zone are doing the incredible work of supplying the proper support and tools to this often overlooked demographic.

February 14th, 2020|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

Challenging Underestimation Through Teenpreneurship: Y.E.S. // Dade City, Florida

“CO.STARTERS Generator was the only option left standing, given [my] needs for accessibility. The modular nature of Generator was especially appealing, and the bright, colorful layout of the binder was a bonus too.”

August 22nd, 2019|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

Innovation as Equity: Innovate Springfield // Springfield, Illinois

“CO.STARTERS has been great for us to meet our community where it is. We were running our own program before, and members who found the old program frustrating had their lightbulbs go off when they went through CO.STARTERS.” -Sarah Beth Ayers, Business Incubation Program Coordinator at Innovate Springfield

August 6th, 2019|Community Stories, Ecosystems + Economies|

Putting Microlending into Practice: A Community Case Study

By Rich Bailey

Many small businesses believe that bank loans aren’t a viable financing option for them. However, there is a lesser known but well established option that is much more accessible — the microloan.

Lending in small […]

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