About the Project
The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (EMKF) have launched Heartland Together, an initiative to advance local entrepreneurship in the Heartland region.
Next Steps
The first step of this work is to host Diagnosis Events, in which we will evaluate the current local support system around entrepreneurs.
After the Diagnosis Events, we will host a 3-day Flagship Experience to provide leadership development training to key stakeholders who support entrepreneurs. After the program, participants will:
- see themselves in the entrepreneurial landscape in their community
- exercise leadership in that system
- more effectively connect with their network and resources
Program Dates
LIBERAL, KANSAS
Diagnosis Event: Monday, April 24, 2023
Flagship Experience:Â Wednesday, May 31 – Friday, June 2, 2023
MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA
Diagnosis Event: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Flagship Experience: ​January 9, 10, and 11, 2024
RENO COUNTY, KANSAS
Diagnosis Event: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Entrepreneurship Connections:Â Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Flagship Experience:Â November 14, 15, and 16, 2023
Case Documents from Heartland Together Pilot Communities
Civic engagement writers went to Diagnosis Events in communities to hear from residents. They created a document explaining the background of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. These documents were shared at the Flagship Programs, helping participants understand and improve their community’s support for entrepreneurship.
Listening Tour Blogs
In 2022, KLC launched a two-week listening tour with stops in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska where teams facilitated listening sessions in both English and Spanish in 22 communities. These sessions were designed to diagnose the state of local entrepreneurship and the environments that support it.
- Listening to Nebraska
- Listening to Cowley County, Kansas
- Listening to Missouri
- Listening to Iowa
- Listening to Kansas Latinos
- Escuchando a Latinos en el tour Heartland Together
