Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of a community’s economy. Our research and programs  develop opportunities to spur entrepreneurship and stimulate business creation in the heartland.

The Community Growth Program + Toolkit (CGPT) inspires people to see themselves as entrepreneurs and equips them to create new ventures and solve problems.

It includes resources to help those starting out on their journey and encourages peer-to-peer sharing of best practices. Our goal is to inspire more people to see themselves as Builders, creating value for communities and increasing access to capital and resources.

Phase 1

Idea Accelerator

The Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator powered by Heartland Forward is a program for emerging heartland entrepreneurs. Additional information about the program and video stories of participants can be found here.