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Economic Gardening Strategic Plan

With support from many regional partner agencies, BREDD is coordinating an Economic Gardening Strategic Planning Project, in order to support local businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.BREDD has contracted with Don Macke (from The Center for Rural Entrepreneurship) and Christine Hamilton-Pennell (from Growing Local Economies) to conduct a regional assessment, and to prepare and present recommendations to help guide an Economic Gardening program in our region. The Strategic Plan will enhance regionalism by providing strategies to support small and medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs, encouraging innovation and job growth. The Strategic Plan will also help pave the way to a more diverse and globally competitive economy for the region. The project will rely on, and benefit from the expertise and perspectives of many key partners and stakeholders from across
the region.

ECONOMIC GARDENING  UPDATES

Economic Gardening Update #1

Economic Gardening Update #2

Entrepreneur-focused economic development is one of the fastest growing economic development strategies in the United States today. There are many approaches to growing local and regional economies by supporting area entrepreneurs. One of the leading entrepreneur-focused economic development strategies is “Economic Gardening.” Economic Gardening often focuses on working with growth oriented entrepreneurs that can create primary (businesses that sell outside of the area economy) economic growth. A key feature of Economic Gardening is its attention to providing market research and high-level technical assistance to growth entrepreneurs. These services can play a central role in helping entrepreneurs grow more competitive and successful businesses that in turn create new investment, jobs and tax base.

For more information contact Melissa Fisher at mfisher@bredd.org or 406-258-3423. This project is funded by the Economic Development Administration as part of the region’s Community Trade Adjustments Strategic Plan.

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