Creating Entrepreneurial Communities

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the current and prospective roles of entrepreneurship in a community's economic development with the intent of helping future entrepreneurs to understand their place in their communities, development and to assist future public policy makers to create better policy in this arena. The course begins with a history of entrepreneurship in the U.S. and of the role of entrepreneurs in building this country in both the public and private realms. It explores current practices in community economic development, their positive contributions, and their failures. It then offers an alternative approach to thinking about how entrepreneurship can become a part of a communities culture, benefiting both entrepreneurs and the community. This course will be cross-listed with the School of Public Affairs.