Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities

Where Missouri communities come to grow, connect, and build thriving local economies.

The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) initiative, led by MU Extension’s Business & Communities program, helps local leaders turn big ideas into real economic momentum. CEC strengthens the systems that help small businesses grow, innovation takes root, and community leadership expands the building blocks of long-term economic vitality.

Through practical tools, peer learning, and research-informed strategies, CEC helps communities move from conversation to coordination and from vision to implementation.

How CEC Supports Communities

CEC is built for action. Communities engage with:

• Evidence-informed strategies for economic and community development
• Practical tools designed for immediate, real-world use
• Cross-community collaboration and peer learning
• Leadership development grounded in adult-learning principles
• A statewide network of practitioners working to strengthen local economies

The CEC Conference: Missouri’s Flagship Gathering for Community Momentum

Each year, the CEC Conference is hosted in a rural Missouri community, turning Main Street into a hub of learning, connection, and opportunity.

Hosting communities showcase their downtowns, entrepreneurs, institutions, and local assets to leaders from across the state and neighboring regions. It’s more than a conference — it’s a moment for communities to demonstrate they are innovative, collaborative, and open for business.

Participants leave with tools, partnerships, and strategies they can put to work immediately.

Visit the conference page

Why Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Matter

Thriving communities don’t happen by accident. They are built through:

• Strong networks and social capital
• Accessible support for small and emerging businesses
• Civic leadership aligned around shared goals
• Practical workforce and economic development strategies

CEC helps communities strengthen these systems so they can retain talent, support entrepreneurs, and expand opportunity close to home.

Learn Year-Round: The CEC Exchange Webinar Series

The work doesn’t stop between conferences. The quarterly CEC Exchange Webinar brings expert speakers and community leaders together to share ideas, tools, and strategies that support rural innovation and entrepreneurship.

These virtual sessions help communities stay connected, informed, and inspired throughout the year.

Join a webinar