The award recognizes and promotes achievement in entrepreneurial development resulting from the outstanding leadership of local government officials, and is supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City.
A panel of rural entrepreneurship experts evaluated applications on the basis of five criteria: level of effort; impact; innovativeness; replicability; and, proposed use of award funds. The judges looked for applications that demonstrated achievement in entrepreneurial development resulting from the outstanding leadership of local government officials. "Outstanding leadership" meant that local elected officials played a central role in initiating and supporting entrepreneurial development efforts.
Through the leadership Mayor Edward Malloy, Fairfield, Iowa, (pop. 9,602) expanded ordinances governing qualified home occupations, collaborated with agencies to provide in-depth business development seminars for entrepreneurs, furnished advanced telecommunications, and created the Fairfield Entrepreneurs Association, and more. The Association inspires an entrepreneurial spirit in the community and offers essential services in capital formation, business plan development, mentoring and networking. Fairfield's innovative efforts have resulted in several hundred new businesses.
Mayor Wanda Wilt has guided Broadway, Virginia, (pop. 2,600) to encourage and support local entrepreneurs. The town established the non-profit Broadway Hometown Partnership, spearheaded Main Street development including a downtown farmer's market, created a revolving loan fund for start-up and existing businesses, developed a business-friendly Web site with 24/7 access to forms and tools, and more.
With his fellow County Commissioners, Luverne Langerock brought an Enterprise Facilitation Project to extreme rural Turner County, South Dakota (pop. 8,849).
As the winning community, Fairfield, Iowa receives a $5,000 grant to strengthen and expand local entrepreneurial development efforts. The winner and two finalists were honored at the NCSC annual conference.
