06/17/2026
Don’t forget to watch our own, Emily Well’s, talk about the growth of entrepreneurship in Wilson. The City of Wilson, NC - Government has already proved it self as a leader in rural communities and we are proud to be a small part of it!
Rural entrepreneurship doesn’t grow in isolation. It grows through networks, trust, local leadership, and the people building the conditions for founders to thrive.
That’s the focus of 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, a panel discussion during our upcoming webinar on 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮'𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁.
Moderated by Rhonda Ladig, our Director of Entrepreneurship, this conversation will bring together four ecosystem builders working across rural America:
✦ Monica Bilak, Sprocket Paducah — Paducah, Kentucky
✦ Eric Harry, Wachholz Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at FVCC — Northwest Montana
✦ Rose Reza, UNM-Taos HIVE — Taos, New Mexico
✦ Emily Wells, Greenlight & Gig East — Wilson, North Carolina
Together, they’ll explore what it really takes to support rural entrepreneurs, connect local assets, strengthen ecosystems, and build opportunity that lasts.
The webinar will also include a deep look at rural entrepreneurship trends and a walkthrough of the Rural Entrepreneurship Index with Amanda Weinstein, our Director of Research, as well as a fireside chat between Jay Bockhaus, our Chief Investment Officer, and Dusty Birge, Founder and CEO of Fast Forward from Kearney, Nebraska.
Rural communities are already building what’s next. Join us to see what’s working — and what’s possible.
Register here: https://ow.ly/bJFV50Z7Juf
