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Diversity boosts local job market Entrepreneurs are key to growth, experts say

Diversity boosts local job market Entrepreneurs are key to growth, experts say

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Duluth News-Tribune
Monday, September 1, 2008

The number of jobs in Duluth, measured during the fourth quarter of each year, increased at a slow but dependable 1 to 2 percent for each of the past four years. There were 61,478 jobs in Duluth during the final three months of 2007.

Agencies exist specifically to help new businesses get started or to take those already generating healthy bottom lines to new heights.

The Greenstone Group, for example, funded by a Knight Foundation grant, is designed to help 500 entrepreneurs for the next decade.

Unlike groups like the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund and the UMD Center for Economic Development that cater to upstarts, the goal is to help proven entrepreneurs grow by bounds.

“An opportunity to put their businesses on steroids” is how Jerry Peterson, director of the Greenstone Group, describes his organization.

His group — an arm of the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund — is focused on getting entrepreneurs working with coaches and other business professionals to help them rapidly expand.