Doesn't every community's future lie in capturing the passion, intelligence, imagination and resources of its people? The Enterprise Facilitation concept developed by Ernesto Sirolli and detailed in his book, Ripples from the Zambezi uses a person-centered approach to local economic development.
It is a much different approach than economic development strategies in most American cities, focusing on job creation and retention through business supports such as incentives and tax credits.
Many organizations such as Chambers of Commerce are frustrated that, while jobs are created in areas of their city, little impact is made upon things like the poverty or crime rates. While economic development resulting in gentrification has resolved some of these social issues by relocating the problem to another place, the underlying disparities are not addressed.
Residents of communities, together with their elected officials, planning staff, economic development proponents talk often about 'quality of life' and that a good quality of life is what attracts residents and industry to an area--or encourages them to leave for 'greener' pastures.
Enterprise Facilitation is an approach that directly addresses people who are aspiring entrepreneurs or people who have existing businesses, but are untouched or underserved by traditional resources for entrepreneurs in any community.
Rather than relying on job creation in a vacuum, for the Enterprise Facilitation concept to work, it takes local leadership--an essential component. Over the years, the Enterprise Facilitation concept has validated its founding tenant - that without civic understanding and belief in the people within its own community--nothing can happen.
