VBIA RECOMMENDED PUBLICATIONS

The following publications are posted to assist in developing ideas, policies and programs that will further entrepreneurial development in Virginia. We encourage you to explore what is available and would encourage you to make us aware of other publications you find most useful. You can reach us by going to the contact page of this website.

BOOKS

MOXIE and other fundamental entrepreneurial concepts

Jim Flowers, Director of VT KnowledgeWorks,  shares his start-up experience in his recently published book  – Jim also blogs for business founders at www.startwithmoxie.comand tweets at www.twitter.com/startwithmoxie.  He claims that regular blogging and tweeting can transform a pre-boomer into a millennial.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Building Entrepreneurial Networks
Published in 2001 by the National Commission on Entrepreneurship, this report provides a "how-to guide" on building entrepreneurial networks for entrepreneurs, community leaders, policy makers, and others.

Community Environment for Entrepreneurship
Published in March 2002 by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, this paper discusses the elements that constitute a community’s entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial support organizations (ESO’s).

Economic Gardening Helps Communities Grow Their Own Jobs
This short four page article describes the principles and practices of economic gardening and provides some case study examples.

Economic Gardening: Next Generation Applications for a Balanced Portfolio Approach to Economic Growth
Economic gardening is an innovative entrepreneur-centered economic growth strategy that offers balance to the traditional economic development practice of business recruitment. This chapter, written by the SBA, explains the key concepts behind this practice.

Embracing Innovation: Entrepreneurship and American Economic Growth
A National Commission on Entrepreneurship white paper describes the role of entrepreneurs transforming American business and society.

Energizing an Entrepreneurial Economy – A Guide for County Leaders
Published in July 2006 by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship and was prepared for the National Association of Counties. It is intended to provide useful information, insights, and examples about how to energize an entrepreneurial economy.

Energizing Entrepreneurs – The Practice
Published in January 2004 by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, this paper discusses highlights the forms of assistance potentially helpful to entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurial Support Organizations
Published in March 2002 by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, this paper discusses entrepreneurial support organizations and their role in creating environments that support higher rates of entrepreneurial success.

Policy Recommendations In Support of Rural Entrepreneurship
Published in 2008 by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, this is a set of policy recommendations focused on three topics essential to the fundamental success of rural entrepreneurs: sustainability, healthcare access and locally produced food and food products.

Virginia Business Startups
Discusses the number of business startups in Virginia and the states role in providing assistance.

Youth Entrepreneurship Education in America – A Policy Maker’s Action Guide
Published in 2008 by the Aspen Institute, this publication explores the need to provide an entrepreneurial education to our children and what type of programs and standards should be adopted.

GENERAL PUBLICATIONS

Benchmarking Innovation
Written by Erik R. Pages and Graham S. Toft, this paper explores what states and localities can do to benchmark itself and its programs. Benchmarking is defined as a comparative exercise that assesses performance in relation to the best in class rather than a performance measurement. It is a process that begins with analysis, and hopefully ends with a diagnosis of shortcomings and solutions to help fix them.

High-Impact Firms: Gazelles Revisited
Published in June 2008 by the Small Business Administration, this study revisits and expands upon some of the conclusions on rapidly growing firms made by the small business research pioneer, David Birch, in the 1980s. Birch found that rapidly growing firms, which he termed “gazelles,” are responsible for most employment growth.

The Climate Prosperity Handbook - Green Savings/Green Opportunities/Green Talent
Published July 2009 by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), this publication examines the sustainability movement and “green” initiatives across the US.

Preparing the Workers of Today for the Jobs of Tomorrow
Published in July 2009 by the Office of the President of the United States, in this report the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) presents a projection of potential developments in the U.S. labor market over the next five to ten years and discusses the preparations necessary to develop the 21st century workforce.

Regionalism and Clusters for Local Development Needs Assessment Results
Published in 2007 and funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), this publication was designed to enable practitioners to better understand and apply core concepts of regionalism and industry cluster development.

Small Business Economic Trends
Published in June 2009 by the National Federation of Small Businesses, this report is based on a survey of small independent business owners and provides a thorough overview of the plans and views of small businesses in this economy.

Small Business Survival Index 2008
Published in December 2008 by the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council, this is a state ranking of the policy environment for entrepreneurs across the nation.

The 2008 State New Economy Index – Benchmarking Economic Transformation in States
Published in November 2008 by the Kaufman Foundation, this publication explores the “New Economy” and what it means and defines the next big challenges, opportunities and new economic strategies this economy faces.

The Power of Information: Using Data to Create and Refine your Economic Development Strategy
Published in Spring 2007 by the Economic Development Administration, this publication explores using data to enhance your regions competitive positioning, using locational intelligence to attract retail to underserved areas, economic gardening – using information to help entrepreneurs grow and more.