National Urban League Recognized by InBIA
|
This month, the National Urban League was awarded the Julius Morgan Diversity and Inclusion Award by InBIA, The award highlights something deeper than a single program. It reflects a national system built to consistently deliver trusted, culturally grounded support to entrepreneurs.
While others have pulled back, the National Urban League’s work shows that lasting impact comes from continuity, not moments. This blog explores what it really takes to build infrastructure that holds and continues to serve entrepreneurs over time.
|
|
|
|
SourceLink Affiliates Shine at InBIA Annual Conference
|
At the InBIA Annual Conference, one thing was clear: ecosystem building is moving from idea to practice.
SourceLink partners shared real examples of what it takes to strengthen entrepreneurial systems, from relationship-driven networks to more accessible capital and culturally aligned support.
This blog reflects those moments and what they signal for the work ahead.
|
|
|
|
Beyond Celebration: Aligning Small Business and Economic Development Efforts
|
When National Small Business Week and Economic Development Week align, it highlights a simple truth: entrepreneurs and the systems that support them are deeply connected. Our latest blog explores why that connection matters and how communities can strengthen both for long-term growth.
|
|
|
|
Conference Reflection: Big Towns |
|
|
|
|
This month, SourceLink Project Manager, Solomon Lee, attended the Big Towns Annual Summit, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Big Towns is a two-day conference bringing together leaders in mid-sized cities too big to be small towns and too small to be big cities.
"Big Towns was a wealth of knowledge sharing that empowered city representatives to make impactful change in their community. For three years now, Big Towns has brought together mid-sized cities together to share best practices while also visiting and understanding the ecosystem of one of Louisiana's most vibrant big towns. Lafayette, LA was the perfect place to host this event as they've put a lot of innovative tactics into practice, putting their culture front and center."
Be sure to keep Big Towns on your radar for their next event!
|
|
|
|
Affiliate & Partner Updates |
Upcoming Educational Opportunity: Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street |
Available through the Main Street America Academy, Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street courses offer unique content that blends evergreen strategies and timely topics, each designed to strengthen your ability to nurture economic vitality and entrepreneurship in your community.
The May 2026 Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street course provides practical tools and perspectives to foster a resilient, vibrant economy by strengthening the property and small business ownership ecosystem. Through three live, instructor-led sessions, learn how to better understand and navigate the complexities of these important players, build productive relationships with property owners, support small business stability and growth, and identify opportunities where interests overlap.
Learn more about this opportunity here.
|
|
|
|
| IgniteMN Welcomes New Executive Director
Ignite Minnesota recently announced Susan Langer as its new executive director, bringing new perspective and continued momentum to the state’s innovation and startup support efforts. Read more about the announcement and what it could mean for Minnesota’s ecosystem.
|
|
|
|
Join Us on the ESHIP Commons!
ESHIP Commons is a space for entrepreneurial ecosystem builders and organizations to connect, collaborate, and co-create solutions that expand access to entrepreneurship. Please join this Digital and In-Person Community Platform and get involved!
SourceLink Affiliates have the added benefit of a private communications space to share ideas, announcements and just keep in touch with each other. For more information about the SourceLink group on The Commons, contact Krista Markley.
|
|
|
|
Have News to Share?
Let us know! We love to celebrate our network successes and amplify inspirational applications of ecosystem building and entrepreneurship-led economic development. You can email us at hello@joinsourcelink.com.
|
|
|
|
Visit our Calendar of Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Events to discover more information on these events and other conversations just on the horizon.
- May is AAPI Heritage Month
- National Small Business Week, May 3 - 8
- Economic Development Week, May 4 - 8
- IEDC's Workforce Development Strategies, May 6 - 7
- Technical.ly's Builders Conference, May 6 - 8
- IEDC's Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development Strategies, May 14
|
|
|
|
Click on the icons above to find out how SourceLink can help you strengthen your entrepreneurial community.
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2026 SourceLink, All rights reserved.
You're on this list because you are a friend or client of SourceLink.
Our mailing address is:
SourceLink
4747 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri 64110
|
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
4747 Troost Ave | Kansas City, MO 64110 US
|
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
| |
|
|
