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Navigating Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Small-town America

Floyd, Brady Truman
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1708336777122181

Abstract Details

2024, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, Business Administration.
Small towns play a critical role in shaping the economic and social fabric of many regions worldwide. Small-town entrepreneurial activity can drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation, but it also faces unique challenges and opportunities (Malecki, 2018). This thesis investigates the unique challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in small-town entrepreneurial ecosystems (STEEs), focusing on two case studies in Ironton and Athens, Ohio. The thesis examines the critical role of anchor institutions, community support and social capital, policy and resource provision, and innovation and diversification in shaping these ecosystems (Feld, 2012; Roundy, 2017; Stam, 2015). Through a comparative analysis, the study finds that strong community bonds, success stories, and community-building activities contribute to a supportive environment for entrepreneurship. Limited customer bases, lack of local job opportunities, and limited community support hinder growth. The presence of anchor institutions, such as universities, is a vital factor in fostering innovation and higher-paying jobs (Etzkowitz, 2008; Stangler & Bell-Masterson, 2015). The findings have implications for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders seeking to promote entrepreneurial activity in small towns and other non-urban contexts.
Luke Pittaway (Advisor)
93 p.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial ecosystems; community revitalization; economic development; innovation; small towns

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Floyd, B. T. (2024). Navigating Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Small-town America [Undergraduate thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1708336777122181

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Floyd, Brady. Navigating Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Small-town America. 2024. Ohio University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1708336777122181.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Floyd, Brady. "Navigating Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Small-town America." Undergraduate thesis, Ohio University, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1708336777122181

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ouhonors1708336777122181
358
© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University Honors Tutorial College and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12