I BELIEVE EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT TO PROSPER IN OUR ECONOMY |
Economic Growth Through Collaborative Economic Development

Welcome to the official site of Dr. Dell Gines, nonprofit executive, certified economic developer, and Chief Innovation Officer at the International Economic Development Council. Drawing on twenty-one years of experience in entrepreneurship-led growth and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, he directs the thirty-million-dollar Economic Recovery Corps program and other national initiatives that advance equitable economic development. An internationally recognized speaker and author of six practitioner guides and two books, Dr. Gines helps communities build resilient, opportunity-rich economies.
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The New Book is Out! Ecosystem Builder's Playbook

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This concise guide explains how communities can accelerate entrepreneurship-led growth within a short timeframe. Based on more than a decade of field experience, the playbook translates proven ecosystem-building principles into clear, step-by-step actions.
The Ecosystem Builder’s Playbook supplies practical frameworks, downloadable tools, and real-world examples so civic leaders, nonprofit professionals, economic developers, and community advocates can cultivate a strong entrepreneurial culture where they live and work.
This concise guide explains how communities can accelerate entrepreneurship-led growth within a short timeframe. Based on more than a decade of field experience, the playbook translates proven ecosystem-building principles into clear, step-by-step actions.
The Ecosystem Builder’s Playbook supplies practical frameworks, downloadable tools, and real-world examples so civic leaders, nonprofit professionals, economic developers, and community advocates can cultivate a strong entrepreneurial culture where they live and work.
My Previous Book! Ecosystems Emerge

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As a new economic development practice, entrepreneurship ecosystem building is exploding in popularity across the nation. However, because it is new, many economic developers do not know about it or how it fits into the field of economic development. In a first-of-its-kind book, Ecosystems Emerge answers many of these questions.
As a new economic development practice, entrepreneurship ecosystem building is exploding in popularity across the nation. However, because it is new, many economic developers do not know about it or how it fits into the field of economic development. In a first-of-its-kind book, Ecosystems Emerge answers many of these questions.
What Others are Saying
"I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you we are pursuing a strategy here in Clay County based upon some of your suggestions. Some of the initiatives are a task force to bring a research facility, an angel investor group, and a cooperative event with Kauffman to bring the 1 Million cups program to the Northland. Thanks again for your donation of time and talent to guide us." - Jim Hampton, CEO Clay County Economic Development, Missouri
"Thank you for participating as a speaker at our sixth annual US Source Link conference. You were part of making our conference a great success. Attendees left with smiles on their faces, feeling well-informed and more energized. Thank you!" - The US Source Link Team
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"There is a man from our community who was addicted to crack for 30 years. He participates regularly in your grassroots project. He told me the reason he is so committed is because your program gives him a chance to show his children that he can GIVE BACK to the community what he spent 30 years taking from it" - Teresa Clardy, KCK Workforce Partnership
"Thank you so much for sharing your expertise & enthusiasm with our community leaders. I appreciate your investment of time and talent into rural Nebraska. Lets hope the seeds you sowed will reap an incredible harvest...!" - Sharon Hueftle, South Central Economic Development Disctrict, Nebraska
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" As a result of your last presentation, we decided to get more creative in our outreach to Micro Black businesses. Therefore, we have partnered with the FDIC and several banks and we are aggressively identifying and outreaching financial literacy training along with loan capital to Black Micro businesses in central Florida." - Inez Long, Black Business Investment Fund Florida
"We just had our steering committee wrap-up for 2015... Everyone really appreciated your presentation, it ranked among the two best speakers. I think it really shows an interest in how to make something happen in our rural communities." -
James Yohe, Planning Committee Texas Rural Challenge |