Eau Claire - On April 12, 2005, Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. hosted a workshop entitled "Entrepreneurial Communities Potluck." The workshop presented an afternoon of learning, networking and resource exchange centered on building entrepreneurial communities.

Kelly Haverkampf, executive director of Wisconsin Rural Partners, opened the workshop with a brief introduction to the New Rural Economy and Entrepreneurial Communities.

"Master Gastronome" Gerry Campbell, professor of Agricultural & Applied Economics and extension specialist in community food systems, presented the concept of the Potluck, which is an asset-based development approach using the principles of diversity, novelty, community and synergy to yield abundance.

In his illustrative manner, Campbell (pictured at left) demonstrated to participants how using the asset-based approach can help them become entrepreneurial in meeting community challenges.

Following Campbell's presentation, three Wisconsin community leaders shared their "recipes for success" in building entrepreneurial communities. Ricky Rolfsmeyer of Hollandale described how the southwestern Wisconsin Arts Build initiative has created an economic development strategy based on their identification of a critical mass of artists, artisans and craftspeople interested in beginning or expanding arts-related businesses. Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, presented the story of the Community Progress Initiative's first year of success with a multi-tracked approach to dealing with massive layoffs in the paper industry. Terry D. Whipple, executive director of the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation, presented the tale of the Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club that has created a safe and innovative environment for people with business ideas to network and get the support they need to build businesses.

Following the panel presentation, facilitator Anne Katz,executive director of Arts Wisconsin and proponent of the Grow Wisconsin Creatively initiative, led participants through a series of small roundtable discussions centered on identifying, analyzing, and making use of the assets already available in a community.

Participants each brought an item that represented an asset in their community, and joining with others in their new "communities" (tables), built a community strategy using those assets.

Thanks to the WRP members who participated in the planning for this event (Gerry Campbell, Ricky Rolfsmeyer, Kathy Schmitt, Jim Pfalzgraf, Jill French), and the table leaders (shown at left) who assisted in the facilitation of the small group work. For more photos of the event, view our slideshow by clicking here [PDF file].

Left to right: Bonnie Peterson, Connie Loden, Gerry Campbell, Dennis Deery, Anne Katz, Kathy Schmitt, Ricky Rolfsmeyer.