Business Creation: the Fourth Leg of the Economic Development Stool
May 13, 2015 │ 2:30-4:00 pm ET

Economic development organizations have increasingly recognized the important role that vigorous entrepreneurship support programs play in regional economic development. On a wider scale, supporting the creation of new ventures significantly impacts the national economy. According to a 2010 study conducted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, net job growth in the U.S. economy occurs only through startup firms. On the local level, business creation provides new jobs, increased tax revenue, and innovative ideas.

Speakers Karl LaPan and Carol Kraus Lauffer, two passionate advocates for the emerging business sector, will share the importance and best practices for early-stage business support. Using real-world examples and practical tips, the speakers will discuss the economic developer’s role in entrepreneurial and small business development and show practitioners how to integrate new business development strategies into their current efforts of business attraction, retention and expansion.

Participants in this webinar will learn the following:

• Strategies for strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem in their community 
• Best practices, including sector clusters approaches that facilitate new businesses creation from the ground up 
• Key metrics that measure program success

Speakers:
Karl LaPan 
President & CEO 
Northeast Indiana Innovation Center 
Fort Wayne, IN

Carol Kraus Lauffer 
Partner 
Business Cluster Development 
Portola Valley, CA

Questions? Please contact [email protected]