Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Potential in Overlooked Communities
March 20, 2025
“The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual; the impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.” ― William James In every community, untapped entrepreneurial potential lies dormant, waiting to be unleashed. Yet, the communities that stand to benefit most often lack the tools, training, and support required to unlock that potential. We all know that entrepreneurial activity is essential for creating vibrant, equitable, and sustainable communities. Economic…
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A Husband-and-Wife Facilitation Team Strengthens the Entrepreneurial Community in Central Illinois
August 30, 2022
To get a feel for the Ice House courses facilitated by husband-and-wife team Dr. Jeremy “JK” Morris and Dr. Juanita Morris, just listen to their weekly podcast, Thee Morris Code. The guests laugh and banter, but they’re also willing to display a remarkable degree of vulnerability. This candid nature was especially evident in July when the Morrises spent the month highlighting past Ice House participants at Richland Community College’s EnRich program in Decatur, Illinois. …
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How the Ice House Model Helps Independence Community College Fulfill Its Economic Development Mission
August 3, 2022
The small southeastern Kansas community of Independence has a healthy downtown. This is true despite setbacks in industries like coal mining and oil production. Business coach and longtime resident Jim Correll believes the Ice House model deserves a share of the credit because many successful downtown business owners have participated in the Entrepreneurial Mindset course through Independence Community College’s Fab Lab ICC—including the current president of the Chamber of Commerce. For the past decade,…
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NetWork Kansas Builds Entrepreneurial Thinking Through E-Communities
February 23, 2021
All across Kansas, residents are taking a deep dive into entrepreneur-led development thanks to NetWork Kansas and its E-Commerce Programs. Over the past 18 years, 75 e-communities have been established in the state’s 105 counties, providing $21.5 million to businesses and leveraging an additional $99.2 million (via bank loans, owner down payments, resource partner loans, and more). In addition to financial assistance, e-communities have played a significant role in changing how people think about…
Read moreNew Year, New Mindset: How Public Libraries Can Support Economic Development in Their Communities
January 15, 2019
Ice House Facilitator Duncan Smith is the Chief Strategist for EBSCO Information Services, a pioneer in the library services industry. After attending certification training in Durham, NC, Duncan was inspired by the potential an entrepreneurial mindset could bring to communities and saw a unique way to engage stakeholders through their public libraries. Spurred on by his new passion, Duncan wrote a blog post illustrating how public libraries are perfectly suited for entrepreneurial learning and activity. Read Now
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