Industry Cluster Project

In the 2007 State New Economy Index, the Kauffman Foundation recommends supporting industry clusters and reorganizing programs around these clusters. The Kauffman Foundation found that “in regional economies, the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts.”

As a result, the Hannah Grimes Center is developing targeted programming focusing on the productivity and innovation of regional small business owners from four industry clusters:

  • Agriculture
  • Artists
  • Construction & Trades
  • Retail

For each industry, we are compiling monthly e-newsletters, identifying partners/service providers, created a focus group and are producing an industry resources brochure.

Our goals for this project are:

  1. Strengthen our connections with individuals, businesses and associations in each industry cluster to understand their needs and look for opportunities to collaborate.
  2. Become the regional resource for these clusters by compiling and disseminating existing information and services (we have piloted this successfully with an e-newsletter for agriculture).
  3. Identify the gaps in services and begin to develop programs that will help make these businesses more innovative and productive.
  4. Increase the wages offered by small business owners in these industry clusters.

Focus Groups

  • Farmer Focus Group: February 11, 2010

  • Construction Focus Group: March 16, 2011

  • Retail Focus Group: May 24, 2011

  • Artist Focus Group: TBA, Winter 2012

In this discussion, business owners were the educators. This focus group was designed to provide a safe space for one group of entrepreneurs (aspiring, beginning and established) to talk candidly about their experience, and the kinds of services that they believe can contribute to the success of their business. The forum were also designed to give service providers the opportunity to listen, observe and learn. Finally, the forum will encourage creativity and problem-solving.

Contact us for more information.