Leaders To Develop Plans For Entrepreneurial Communities @ Philadelphia Event.

Approximately 200 community leaders will gather in Philadelphia in February to discuss ways to promote economic growth in America’s inner cities through entrepreneurship and business incubation.

The National Business Incubation Association (NBIA), The Enterprise Center of Philadelphia and Seedco will help teams of civic leaders develop plans for encouraging entrepreneurship within their communities during The New American City: Making Entrepreneurship an Urban Priority. The event is scheduled for Feb. 10-11 at Philadelphia’s Sheraton Society Hill Hotel.

“Research shows that entrepreneurship is strongly associated with economic growth,” said Dinah Adkins, president and CEO of NBIA. “Many Americans dream of starting their own businesses, but most entrepreneurs find that sustaining their ventures over time can be difficult if they do not have an adequate support system. This event will show community leaders how to provide that support, so cities across the country can benefit from inner-city business development.”

While urban areas enjoy proximity to major markets and transportation centers, inner-city neighborhoods often lack connections to the resources of the greater business community. The New American City is designed to show urban leaders how business incubators — uniquely positioned to connect local entrepreneurs with business community networks — can be the agents that catalyze economic growth within these neighborhoods.

Business incubators help emerging businesses survive the risky start-up phase by providing an array of business support services, such as flexible leases and on-site business counseling. The goal of these programs is to graduate successful firms that create jobs and build wealth in their communities. Since 1980, incubator clients have created more than half a million jobs in North America.

Developing a successful incubation program requires the cooperation of a wide range of groups, so event organizers encourage communities to recruit collaborative teams to attend the event. Team members could include representatives of community organizations, businesses, local governments, universities and school systems, churches and others interested in urban economic development.

Through sessions, presentations and facilitated discussions, entrepreneurship experts will address topics of particular concern to urban leaders, including understanding minority entrepreneurship and building political will.

For more information, contact Theresa Moran, NBIA acting director of education and training, at (740) 593-4331 or tm****@nb**.org, or visit http://www.nbia.org/conf/nac-2002/index.html .

The National Business Incubation Association advances the business incubation process to increase entrepreneurial success and individual opportunity, strengthening communities worldwide. NBIA provides thousands of professionals with information, education, advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence to the process of assisting early-stage companies.

The Enterprise Center recruits and develops entrepreneurial talent through in-house programs and outreach activities. Recently named “Incubator of the Year” by NBIA, The Enterprise Center serves thousands of urban residents in what was once a severely distressed community.