Kirchner Impact Foundation Launches Southeast Economic Development (SEED) Study
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, August 29, 2024 – The Kirchner Impact Foundation today announced that Managing Director of Impact and Co-Manager Hattie Brown, will lead a study focused on entrepreneurship and innovation in the Southeast region of the United States and its potential to address economic development gaps. This study will be conducted through the Foundation’s Kirchner-Donovan…
Study Focuses on the Contribution of Entrepreneurship and Early-Stage Financing to Community Economic Development in the Southeast of the United States
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, August 29, 2024 – The Kirchner Impact Foundation today announced that Managing Director of Impact and Co-Manager Hattie Brown, will lead a study focused on entrepreneurship and innovation in the Southeast region of the United States and its potential to address economic development gaps. This study will be conducted through the Foundation’s Kirchner-Donovan Impact Initiative (KDII).
The Southeast Economic Development (SEED) study focuses on the various ways in which entrepreneurship promotes place-based, community level economic development in the region and whether there is a need for additional early-stage venture capital, or other financing mechanisms, to facilitate it, in terms of availability and appropriateness of fit.
Specifically, the SEED study will focus on 1) the types of businesses that exist and the ways in which they contribute to community economic development (e.g. via employment, supplier relationships, and beyond), 2) the necessary components that create an attractive geography to incubate, keep and grow these businesses, 3) and the type of capital fit-for-purpose to help them grow.
“There are amazing organizations working in the community economic development space across the country. The objective of the SEED Study is to investigate whether there are unexplored opportunities for the private sector – for-profit companies and the investors who support them – to promote growth in areas of distress and economic vulnerability, particularly in more rural communities, and to build on the groundwork that’s been laid,” said Hattie.
“The work of the Kirchner Impact Foundation and its Kirchner-Donovan Impact Initiative has promoted entrepreneurship, capital allocation training and field-building activities in communities across North and Central America. This is an opportunity to focus more narrowly on an economically and culturally important region of the U.S.”
“I am very proud of all the work that the Kirchner-Donovan Impact Initiative has done over the years, and am excited to collaborate on this SEED study,” commented Michael Donovan. “The Southeast region of the US has much untapped potential, and this study will endeavor to find ways of addressing that potential. I look forward to the results.”
Advisors to the project include investors, community economic development experts, entrepreneurs and technical assistance providers from the region.
A call for input: If you’re an expert (an investor, entrepreneur, researcher, economic development professional, community member, or have another point-of-view related to the subject), your input would be greatly appreciated. Please reach out to Hattie Brown via the information below.