The term incubator is so ingrained in the business lexicon of the 90’s and the 2000’s, that little consideration is given to the origin of the word, used today in business context to signify a place – with support services ranging from mentoring to financing – where start-up companies can grow (or hatch) their idea or product. The origin of the term in today’s vernacular is not only decades old, but actually quite literal. Purportedly, the first incubator included a poultry-producer tenant, who literally hatched chickens and the birth of the term incubator.

Today, there are over 1,000 operating incubators in North America, and 4,000 worldwide, ninety percent of which are not-for-profit entities, frequently aligned with a university. The non-profit incubators support not only the individual entrepreneur, but are also focused on economic development in the founding community or region. In fact, the non-profit National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) – the leading association for the industry, states that its’ mission is to “advance the business creation process to increase entrepreneurial success and individual opportunity, strengthening communities worldwide.”

Is an incubator the right economic development tactic for your community? Learn the steps, and read a case study (click here)

N-the-Spotlight: Workforce Housing Near the Top of the Business Agenda in Many Communities

From San Francisco to Richmond, VA, communities across the nation are becoming more mindful of the need to create affordable housing for working families in lower-paying service jobs, and middle-income public service professions, such as police men and women, nurses, teachers and firefighters. Once considered the province of non-profit or social services, affordable housing is rapidly becoming an important issue to business and economic development forces.

Coalitions are forming across the country to address, or pre-empt the problem of workforce housing. (for the full story, click here)

Survey: College-Educated, Young Adults Consider “Place” First When Choosing Locations

Two-thirds of highly mobile 25-to 34-year olds with college degrees say they will decide where they live first, then look for a job, according to a new survey commissioned by CEOs for Cities…Click here for full press release

“The future ain’t what it used to be.” This pronouncement by the beloved Yogi Berra is certainly “right on” – right now – for most communities that I know something about first-hand.

The nature of our time – right now – is one of accelerating change and growing uncertainty. Change and uncertainty are so rapid and so pervasive that they need new and decidedly different kinds of programs and sets of rules to deal with them effectively.

Crisis situations are forcing crash programs, hit or miss approaches, duplication of effort, wasted resources and piecemeal searches for quick fixes and silver bullet solutions.

Putting it as simply and as plainly as I know how, we need to think—and act-- about the future in new ways.

Click here for more of Howard’s thoughts on community transformation