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Emphasis - July 30

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-914690.mp3

Fort Madison, IA – Jason Parrott's guest is Welthy Soni-Myers, who is a microenterprise consultant. They talk about the potential for creating a business-friendly climate for entrepreneurs in southeast Iowa.

Soni-Myers says a microenterprise is a business with 5 or fewer employees that requires less than $35,000 in capital. She says the term has been used by economic developers for about 25 years.

Soni-Myers says micro-enterprises make up the majority of businesses in Iowa.

Soni-Myers says communities across the country are seeing the benefits of encouraging entrepreneurial growth. She says successful examples share several characteristics: collaboration, innovation, & a key leader.

Soni-Myers says the biggest challenges for regions is to find a niche branding campaign and a customer base. She says that is why the idea of buying local is crucial to entrepreneurs.