A Look Inside the Aubrey Local Business Accelerator
Small businesses are already contributing to the character and economy of communities like Aubrey. But having entrepreneurs in a community and intentionally creating the conditions for them to grow are two different things.
That idea was at the heart of the Aubrey Local Business Accelerator (ALBA), created through a partnership between Economic Growth Strategies (EGS) and the Aubrey Municipal Development District.
ALBA brought local business owners together to step away from the day-to-day demands of running their businesses and focus on what comes next. Through hands-on learning and the Business Model Canvas, entrepreneurs explored their customers, pricing, marketing, business models, and opportunities for growth.
The Impact Went Beyond the Program
Participants didn’t simply leave with new information. Many applied what they learned directly to their businesses, gained greater clarity and confidence, and identified tangible next steps for growth.
But the experience also revealed something important about entrepreneurial ecosystems: Entrepreneurs need more than programs. They need connection.
The opportunity to learn alongside other local business owners helped create relationships, shared learning, and a stronger sense of entrepreneurial community.
And that’s where the story becomes bigger than ALBA itself.
What Can Communities Learn From Aubrey?
Intentional entrepreneurship-led economic development isn’t necessarily about creating more activity. It’s about understanding what local entrepreneurs need and building support around those needs.
For Aubrey, ALBA provided valuable insight into what can happen when entrepreneurs are given the space, tools, relationships, and support to work on their businesses—not just in them.
So what did entrepreneurs take away from the experience? And what can other communities learn from Aubrey’s approach?
Continue the Story
These are just a few of the insights that emerged from ALBA. In the full LinkedIn Newsletter, we dive deeper into the program’s results, what changed for participating entrepreneurs, the role connection played in the experience, and what Aubrey’s story can teach other communities about investing intentionally in local businesses.
Read the full ALBA Impact Story on LinkedIn
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