Ord, Nebraska
An Entrepreneurial Community
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Case study on how hardship, leadership, philanthropy, and a 20-year vision built an entrepreneurial community |
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As the COVID-19 Recession drags on and we are all experiencing fatigue from these crazy times we are pleased to share the first of our stories about Ord, Nebraska. This is a story of hope and opportunity rooted in the richest entrepreneurial traditions. Ord, Nebraska, An Entrepreneurial Community, focuses on this rural community’s journey from crisis to vitality. Central to Ord’s success is its commitment to entrepreneurship now rooted in its economy and culture. Ord was e2’s first opportunity to focus on entrepreneurship as a development strategy. Lessons from this story are numerous and inspiring. This paper is the first of a collection of stories about Ord and its remarkable transformation spanning 50 years from 1970 to 2020. In future e2 newsletters, we will release additional stories until the entire series is public. Take time to read and download this story as it will inspire you and make you believe any community can succeed if they are willing to make the necessary commitments over time.
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e2 Joined the Achieving the Promise of Work Network |
Peter A. Creticos with Institute for Work & the Economy is in our opinion one of the most relevant thought leaders in the United States today. The Institute’s new initiative, Achieving the Promise of Work, is an opportunity to not only envision what work will look like in a post-pandemic world but how we can shape a more meaningful work environment through policy and action. Peter’s Day After Conversations are hopeful, beginning new conversations that can shape our future. For more information, check out the Institute’s summary of Achieving the Promise of Work . We are honored to be collaborating with Peter and providing a rural perspective to this important work.
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New National e2 Practitioners Network Up and Running |
The door is still open for you to join our new National e2 Practitioners Network. By joining, you will have access, without cost, to our entire e2 University Resource Library in return for your willingness to share your experiences. The deal is simply and easy. More network info. Back in November 2019 we began the work of totally updating our e2 University Resource Library. We are pleased to announce that this library is now available to our National e2 Practitioners Network. It is a soup-to-nuts collection of resources spanning from community readiness to working with entrepreneurs. These resources are practical, and field tested. More e2U info.
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Rural Solutions for Rural Communities |
September is entrepreneurship month at Rural Community Solutions TV, a live YouTube channel dedicated to rural communities. Don Macke kicked off the first of 4 guest appearances on Sept. 2 to discuss post-pandemic development opportunities. He then appeared on Sept. 10 for the topic "Why Entrepreneurship - Making the Case." Next up, on Sept. 17, "Growing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems" and Sept. 23, "Working with Your Community's Entrepreneurs." Subscribe now!
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Is Rural America Failing or Succeeding? Maybe Both. This paper by Kenneth Johnson and Daniel Lichter with the Carsey Institute provides a well-documented picture of one factor contributing to a shrinking rural America or urbanization. For years at e2 we have made this point that large rural population centers became urban contributing to the statistical image that rural is in decline.
Student Loans and Entrepreneurship: An Overview. The Kauffman Foundation released an overview highlighting how student loan debt impacts entrepreneurship through access to capital, individual cash flow requirements, and risk tolerance in comparison to the benefits that higher education provides.
Building a Co-op Economy in Maine—And Perhaps in Your State Too. Comparing Maine to co-op development in Finland, this article from Nonprofit Quarterly discusses how co-ops form, what the benefits are to communities, and critical elements to building an ecosystem that fosters and supports co-ops.
A Healthier Rural America – Call to a Strategic Action Plan. This paper is authored by Phillip L. Polakoff, MD and our long-term friend Dennis Berens. We recommend this paper as it provides an important game plan to ensure health and healthcare in rural America.
Small business confidence rebounds from all-time low, but Main Street still has a long way to go. A survey from CNBC showed some improvement in small business sentiment during the third quarter of 2020, but small businesses are still much more likely to report poor business conditions as compared to larger businesses (50+ employees).
For entrepreneurs to thrive, policies must help level the playing field. The Kauffman Foundation has posted a series of videos discussing challenges faced by rural businesses, minority-owned businesses, and small businesses in general. They also provide some insight as to how government can better support these enterprises going forward.
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September 24th - A dynamic (virtual) gathering for thriving small communities. Six tracks, eighteen sessions and two keynote speakers! More Info or to Register
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2020 Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations |
This year's theme is "Sustainable Community for All." The format of the Conference will be online this year, October 26-27. Dive into expanded content live or listen to the recording at your convenience. From "blind-dates" matched by your interests to group discussions, interactive sessions, special events, and virtual "bar hopping" --- there are plenty of fun ways to connect, learn, and grow! More Info or to Register
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NREDA 2020 Annual Conference |
This year's format will be virtual, November 4-6, with educational offerings designed to engage the learner and impact rural communities across America and into Canada. More Info
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