Last week, our team at Next Street joined economic developers from across the country at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference in Detroit. In a moment when the U.S. feels increasingly divided, we were reminded that supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs is a powerful point of connection—one that transcends geography, ideology, and industry.

Whether you’re a community developer who’s championed “buy local” for years or you’re focused on national security and strengthening domestic supply chains, we’re arriving at the same conclusion: investing in small businesses—from solopreneurs to supplier firms—is a shared objective by different names.

We also heard loud and clear that small businesses need more than encouragement—they need business and workforce development support and flexible, patient capital to pursue new opportunities and mitigate business risks. These tools are essential to help them grow, adapt, and thrive in today’s economy.

One powerful idea came from the CEO of the Global Entrepreneurship Network: entrepreneurs aren’t just problems to solve—they’re problem solvers. Community developers should view small businesses as sources of innovation and solutions to local challenges. Engaging with and investing in entrepreneurs is not just economic development—it’s community development.

And small businesses themselves are community connectors and builders. Main Street businesses often serve as “third spaces”—places beyond home and work where people gather, connect, and build relationships. They represent the identity and character of our communities, shaping how we experience and define the places we live.

Detroit—and Michigan more broadly—are leading the way Michigan’s Community and Worker Economic Transition Office is demonstrating how to center businesses, communities, and workers together in economic transformation amid clean energy and manufacturing transitions. And the launch of the MI Hub for Manufacturers is a bold step toward building the economy of the future, offering support to local firms and supply chains at the heart of it.

Michigan presents a promising example of what it’s like to lead the next chapter of the American story. We left Detroit energized, inspired, and more committed than ever to helping communities unlock the potential of their small businesses.

Let’s keep building together.