SourceLink

04/01/2026

Accessibility isn’t just compliance: it determines who can access your programs and opportunities.

WCAG 2.1 gives a clear framework, but it can feel overly technical. The good news: meaningful improvements often come down to simple changes. We broke it down into practical steps for teams working in economic and community development.

Read the full blog here:

One of our favorite quotes from social entrepreneur and founding executive director of the ESHIP Alliance Andy Stoll is, “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.” That gap shows up in more places than we often realize, including online. When a website that offers business startup informati...

04/01/2026

For those who’ve attended ICBI in the past:

What’s one idea or connection you brought back that actually changed how you approach your work?

We’re looking ahead to and would love to hear what has stuck with you.

Inbia-International Business Innovation Association

InBIA is excited to hold it's 40th annual conference - ICBI40 - in Chicago, Illinois, April 12-15, 2026! This event will bring together entrepreneur support and ecosystem building practitioners from all over the world to: 

03/24/2026

Entrepreneurship-led economic development doesn’t happen by chance.

It’s built by people making decisions every day about how systems connect... or don’t.

That’s why gatherings like matter.

They give ecosystem builders a chance to step out of their local context and compare notes:

What’s working
What’s breaking down
What’s worth building next

If you’re responsible for strengthening support for entrepreneurs in your community, this is a useful room to be in.

Here’s why we’re paying attention to ICBI40 this year:
https://www.joinsourcelink.com/2026/02/26/why-you-need-to-be-at-icbi40-this-april/

Inbia-International Business Innovation Association

Entrepreneurship-led economic development doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built by the people behind the scenes by incubator managers, ESO leaders, ecosystem builders, funders, and program directors who design the systems entrepreneurs rely on every day.

03/20/2026

Trust is not just a value in economic development; it's infrastructure.

It shapes how partners coordinate, how information flows, and whether entrepreneurs know where to turn.

At the IEDC Leadership Summit, one question kept coming up:
How do we make trust operational, not just aspirational?

This reflection explores what that looks like in practice.

Read more: https://www.joinsourcelink.com/2026/03/11/reflections-from-the-iedc-leadership-summit-trust-as-infrastructure/

The most important moment of the IEDC Leadership Summit for me happened the night before. Dr. Lomax R Campbell and I sat down to refine our thinking for our presentation, Designing Relationship Infrastructure for Impactful Entrepreneurship-led Economic Development, and we found ourselves asking a si...

03/19/2026

If you’re building or managing an entrepreneurial ecosystem, this is one of the rooms you want to be in this year.

brings together practitioners from across the country who are working through the same questions many of us are facing:

How do we coordinate resources more effectively?
How do we fund and sustain the work long term?
What does a strong support system actually look like in practice?

This year’s conference is focused on practical, peer-driven strategies for strengthening ESOs and the ecosystems around them.

We put together a quick look at why it’s worth your time.

Read more: https://www.joinsourcelink.com/2026/02/26/why-you-need-to-be-at-icbi40-this-april/

Inbia-International Business Innovation Association

Entrepreneurship-led economic development doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built by the people behind the scenes by incubator managers, ESO leaders, ecosystem builders, funders, and program directors who design the systems entrepreneurs rely on every day.

03/18/2026

Small Business Development Centers are a key partner in entrepreneurial ecosystems and today we celebrate them. Happy SBDC Day! We want to give a special shout out to our own center, the Missouri SBDC at UMKC and all of our wonderful SBDC partners across the network.

03/13/2026

Strong entrepreneurial ecosystems are built on trust, relationships, and community.

We’re looking forward to the upcoming Inbia-International Business Innovation Association discussion, Community Is the New Capital: The Currency of Trust and Solidarity, which explores how community networks help move capital to innovators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

If you’re interested in how trust and collaboration shape access to opportunity, consider joining the conversation on March 19.

https://www.inbia.org/events/community-is-the-new-capital-the-currency-of-trust-and-solidarity

02/27/2026

We’re heading to Chicago for , April 12-15, and we’re proud to be a sponsor and exhibitor!

This year’s theme, Share, Build, Thrive, is a strong reflection of the work happening across entrepreneurship-led economic development. If you are an ecosystem builder, economic developer, or business support organization, this is a great space to connect with peers and learn from leaders across the country.

We’d love to see you there.

Register ASAP, and if you are a SourceLink affiliate, reach out to us for a special discount code.

https://www.inbia.org/events/icbi40---inbias-40th-international-conference-on-business-innovation-

InBIA is excited to hold it's 40th annual conference - ICBI40 - in Chicago, Illinois, April 12-15, 2026! This event will bring together entrepreneur support and ecosystem building practitioners from all over the world to: 

02/20/2026

Rob Williams, Director and National Network Builder at SourceLink, is joining Dr. Lomax R. Campbell, MBA, President and CEO of Third Eye Network, for a dynamic relationship skill-building session at the International Economic Development Council 2026 Leadership Summit.

Be sure to check out their session: Architecture of Trust: Designing Relationship Infrastructure for Entrepreneurship-Led Economic Development on March 2. You’ll walk away with practical tools to turn collaboration into measurable impact.

If you haven’t registered yet, the IEDC deadline is TODAY!
https://leadership26.iedconline.org/registration

02/05/2026

Entrepreneurship isn’t a buzzword anymore.
It’s the backbone of modern economic development.

The words we use to describe entrepreneurs now determine who shows up, who gets support, and who feels like they belong.

Read more in our latest blog:

The words communities use to describe entrepreneurs now shape who participates, who gets support, and how local economies grow.

12/11/2025

Rural communities across the country are redefining how they support entrepreneurs—strengthening connections, adopting better tools, and fostering intentional leadership.

In a recent discussion with ecosystem builders from West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), Network Kansas, and Iowa Economic Development Authority, we explored what helps rural entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive. A clear theme emerged: rural innovation accelerates when technology bridges distance, leadership builds trust, and communities shift from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance.

We’re grateful for the work of partners nationwide who are helping make this transformation possible.

Learn more about rural innovation:

Across small towns and wide-open regions, rural ecosystems grow faster when ecosystem partners invest in shared systems, transparent communication, and relationships that span towns and counties.