Economic gardening was created in Littleton, Colorado, by city officials who decided to grow their own jobs through entrepreneurship rather than trying to recruit jobs into the community. The community’s focus is on high-growth companies—those companies that can really drive a local economy. This approach strives to create an environment that is rich in information and innovation. The implementation team focuses on providing marketing information and other information to entrepreneurs, investing in the physical and knowledge infrastructure entrepreneurs need, and helping entrepreneurs make connections to peers and mentors, universities, trade associations, and other organizations/institutions that can help entrepreneurs be successful.
The Littleton economic gardening program offers an effective set of support services targeted to growth entrepreneurs in the city.
Information on economic gardening is provided at the following Web sites:
• City of Littleton — Business and Industry Affairs Division
•www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/content/chapter_6/stories/1_000114.pdf
