#400. Wise Towns Will Spur Young Entrepreneurs

• Rural places that tie their economic development resources to entrepreneurship-education can create help these young people pursue their dreams and, in turn, revitalize, grow and diversify their own local economies.
• The most successful communities work in partnership with their schools; the town itself becomes a “learning laboratory” where students can practice the knowledge they are gaining in the classroom.
• Local leaders who take an interest in young entrepreneurs can change the attitudes young people hold about the communities and their futures.
• Building relationships with students who want to get involved in the community, supporting their efforts, and celebrating their local and entrepreneurial projects can help them develop into productive citizens and also make a hometown more attractive as a place to stay or return to.
• Just as with entrepreneurial adults, young entrepreneurs need a place to hang out with other youth who think the way they do. Fitting in is a big deal when you’re a teenager. Young entrepreneurs know they that think differently, and that sense can cause them to retreat by themselves to experiment with their ideas. …if towns provide a place for young entrepreneurs to gather and interact, they can feed off each other’s energy and create even better ideas and inventions.
• To be truly successful, youth entrepreneurship must become a priority within a community’s economic development strategy. Youth entrepreneurship requires a sustained effort, especially in this challenging economic climate where much of the attention is focused on immediate job creation.

Has your community started?