EPISODE 15
How to Advance Economic Prosperity and Reverse the Climate Crisis – Host David Ponraj sits down with David Kenney, Executive Director of VertueLab, to discuss entrepreneurial solutions at the intersection of economic recovery and climate change. They explore how the acceleration of cleantech startups can contribute to shared prosperity and additional investment in a region while addressing racial inequities in both the economy and the environment. Vertue Labs is a non-profit economic development engine funded by the State of Oregon to support cleantech startups.
Learn more about VertueLab’s work: vertuelab.org/about
Additional resources mentioned in this episode:
- SBIR/STTR America’s Seed Fund – www.sbir.gov
- Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program: www.sbir.gov/about-fast
- Find a Procurement Technical Assistance Center – www.aptac-us.org
- EDA Build to Scale Program – eda.gov/oie/buildtoscale
- SBA Clusters – https://www.sba.gov
About Breaking Down Barriers
This podcast explores the opportunity to build wealth in local, regional, and national economies through entrepreneurship-led economic development. Episodes feature changemakers with innovative approaches to empowering people to start businesses that create wealth for their families and improve outcomes for their communities. Conversations highlight work being done in communities across the U.S. to break down barriers to entrepreneurial opportunity in underserved and underrepresented communities. In this series, we share authentic stories about the impact that entrepreneurship-led economic development has on the local economy and connect a global network of passionate economic developers.
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Breaking Down Barriers is a presentation of Economic Impact Catalyst and is hosted by David Ponraj with production and editing by Jacqui Dietrich and Lauren Bernard with voice talent by Antoine Long. Please rate, review, and subscribe to Breaking Down Barriers, available for free wherever you listen to your podcasts!