Local Leadership Team

An eCommunity Leadership Team provides direction and leadership for entrepreneur-led economic development in the area. The team can be:

• An existing group or board (e.g., economic development board, chamber board, visioning committee), making integration easier but potentially losing focus.
• A newly created team, ensuring dedicated efforts and requiring additional meetings.

Why does this matter?
A strong Leadership Team is crucial for the success of an eCommunity. The team meets monthly to:
✅ Assess progress and strategize for future initiatives.
✅ Promote and leverage the eCommunity loan fund.
✅ Launch entrepreneurship programs and engage stakeholders.
✅ Support entrepreneurs at all stages—startups, growth, and succession.

Who Should Be on the Leadership Team?

To build an effective team, it is required to have a paid point person—usually an economic development director or chamber director—to drive initiatives forward.

Ideal Team Composition (7-12 Members)

Your team should include a mix of public and private sector leaders:
🔹 Public Sector Representatives: Economic development directors, Kansas Small Business Development Centers (KSBDC), Kansas Commerce, community colleges, business development organizations, etc.
🔹 Private Sector Representatives: Banking professionals, accountants, attorneys, insurance experts, local entrepreneurs, etc.

An eCommunity Community Entrepreneurship Advisor will work alongside the team, providing:
📌 Meeting agendas & strategic planning
📌 Best practice sharing
📌 Assistance with programs & initiatives

The Power of Regular Meetings

Experience shows that eCommunities with active leadership teams are more likely to:
✔️ Drive entrepreneurial activity
✔️ Utilize their loan funds effectively
✔️ Engage with local entrepreneurs

Meeting Frequency: Monthly (strongly recommended)

Key Meeting Topics:
📍 Defining the vision and mission of the eCommunity
📍 Setting and tracking strategic goals
📍 Promoting the eCommunity loan fund through lenders’ roundtables, media, and online channels
📍 Planning and executing entrepreneurship programs
📍 Developing external communication strategies to engage stakeholders
📍 Identifying and engaging key stakeholders through town halls & resource fairs
📍 Actively engaging with local entrepreneurs to understand their needs

Planning for Success: Your Leadership Checklist

Every eCommunity is unique, but most successful ones follow these key steps:

✅ Assemble a strong and diverse leadership team.

• Engage your eCommunity Community Entrepreneurship Advisor for guidance.
• Include people with different perspectives—some risk-averse, some visionary.

✅ Define a clear vision and mission.

• What does success look like in one, two, or five years?
• Set clear goals and share responsibilities among team members.

✅ Assess local entrepreneurial resources.

• Identify local universities, community colleges, technical schools, SBDCs, SCORE chapters, banks, and loan funds.
• Build relationships and invite resource providers to the table.

✅ Create a streamlined support process for entrepreneurs.

• Ensure the team can connect entrepreneurs to the right resources at every stage.

✅ Integrate the eCommunity Loan Fund into the local financial system.

• Develop relationships with banks, angel investors, and alternative funding sources.

✅ Market and promote the eCommunity Loan Fund.

• Use press releases, city/county websites, brochures, and media outreach.

✅ Engage local entrepreneurs consistently.

• Host focus groups, conduct surveys, and ask for feedback.

✅ Conduct strategic planning and collaborate with resource partners.

• Use the data collected to tailor programs and technical assistance for local entrepreneurs.

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Ready to build a thriving eCommunity?

With the right leadership team, your community can become a hub for entrepreneurship and economic growth. Engage your team, activate your resources, and start making an impact today!