Community Development: Resource Guide

Angel Investor News

Angel Investor News is published monthly and distributed to over 20,000 private investors, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in 98 countries. Its mission is to raise the level of information about private investment, technology trends, financing events and additional resources for the investor and entrepreneur alike.

BizPathways (MN)

BizPathways is a service for anyone interested in starting, growing or supporting a small business in Minnesota. The site offers customized information based on location, need and industry, interactive business plan templates, monthly e-mail newsletters and reminders of business events and access to members-only online discussion (registration required). The BizPathways Network provides on-site training and help to communities that are interested in supporting and promoting local entrepreneurship.

Economic Gardening Economies

Economic Gardening Economies is a site devoted to “Building prosperity in commuities “from the inside out'' by encouraging the creation of entreprenur-friendly communities.

Edward Lowe Foundation

The Edward Lowe Foundation“develops and delivers educational programs and information that help second-stage entrepreneurs grow and thrive.'' The foundation also produces statewide awards programs to aid communities in providing support for the growth of second-stage entrepreneurs.

Iowa Entrepreneur Network

Iowa Entrepreneur Network (IEN) is a joint development of the Iowa Business Council and the Iowa Chamber Alliance. The IEN provides Iowa entrepreneurs and investors with a virtual “community of practice” seeking to integrate entrepreneurial expertise and interests across the state. IEN's goal is to create a critical mass of talent to accelerate the growth of Iowa business and career opportunities.

Iowa Small Business Development Center (IA)

The Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) conduct research, counsel and train business people in management, financing and operating small businesses and provide comprehensive information services and access to experts in a variety of fields. Each SBDC encourages unique local efforts, region to region, state to state and community to community to meet small business needs in its area.

Minnesota Small Business Development Centers (MN)

Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) counselors offer individual advice and guidance concerning the formation, management, financing and operation of a business. To qualify for counseling, the business must be "small" as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Individuals who are considering starting a business are also eligible for counseling. To help maximize the value of the counseling, clients should prepare a draft business plan before meeting with the counselor.

MyEntreNet (IA)

MyEntreNet is a rural entrepreneurship development system which creates community-based support networks and provides new and existing business with advanced technical assistance and training.

National Association of Seed and Venture Funds

The National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) is an organization of private, public and nonprofit organizations committed to building their local economies by investing and facilitating investment in local entrepreneurs. NASVF offers training events to help members build their local networks and improve their productivity.

The RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

The RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship is a Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) national research and policy center. The primary goal of the Center is to be the focal point for efforts to stimulate and support private and public entrepreneurship development in communities throughout rural America.

Venture Network of Iowa

The Venture Network of Iowa (VNI) provides a forum through which inventors and entrepreneurs interact in the hope of forging profitable, long-term business relationships. VNI serves as a catalyst in the formation of new businesses throughout Iowa by facilitating networking meetings for Iowa entrepreneurs, investors and business advisors.

Virtual Business Incubator

The Virtual Business Incubator (VBI) is an online resource for entrepreneurs in Wisconsin. The VBI provides information to individuals with the dream of starting a business and to small business owners who hope to expand.

Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers (WI)

The Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) offer a variety of educational services to small-business clients along the entire business development spectrum - pre-venture, start-up, established and high-growth. The low-cost courses, seminars and workshops cover both basic and complex topics, from marketing to management techniques to business plan development.