A Systems Moment: Celebrating the Evolution of Economic Development

In celebration of Economic Development Week 2026, Fay Horwitt reflects on the growing convergence of economic development and ecosystem building.

Nathan Ohle, CEO of the International Economic Development Council in conversation with Erin Barnes, the President & CEO of Main Street America at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma in April 2026 (photo courtesy: Main Street America).

A Moment That Signals a Shift 

In honor of Economic Development Week, I’ve been reflecting on a moment that, not long ago, might not have been possible.

A few weeks ago, I was at a gathering hosted by Main Street America, listening to Nathan Ohle—CEO of the International Economic Development Council—deliver a keynote on systems stewardship.

It stopped me for a second. I was in a familiar space, alongside colleagues I’ve come to know well over the past few years. But in that moment, I sensed something had shifted. 

Not because the ideas were new—but because of where they were being shared, and how deeply they resonated across the room.

Five years ago, this kind of convergence would have been unlikely.

Different rooms. Different language. Different approaches to the work.

But today, something is shifting—and it’s worth celebrating. Not just in what we do—but in how we understand the work itself. 

Different Origins. Complementary Strengths. 

Economic development and entrepreneurial ecosystem building have each played vital roles in shaping our communities.

• Economic development has helped regions grow - bringing structure, strategy, and alignment across sectors.

• Entrepreneurial ecosystem building has worked from the ground up - centering relationships, local context, and the lived realities of entrepreneurs.

These are not competing approaches. They are complementary strengths.

And what’s emerging now is a recognition that the future requires both - working in closer alignment than ever before.

Why This Moment Calls for Systems Thinking 

The bridge between them is systems thinking.

Not as a concept - but as a shared practice:

• Seeing the full landscape, not just individual efforts

• Understanding how capital, policy, culture, and relationships interact

• Designing for coordination, not just activity

• Measuring success by how the system evolves over time

This is the work of systems change.

And in a moment defined by economic uncertainty and rapid transformation, it’s how we build something more resilient, more inclusive, and more enduring.

What This Means in Practice 

For ecosystem builders, this moment offers a clear invitation:

1. Widen the lens

See yourself as part of a broader economic development system.
Look for who else is shaping it—and how your work connects.

2. Lean into alignment

Find the overlaps with economic development partners and institutions.
Not to merge—but to coordinate where it matters most.

3. Invest in what lasts

Prioritize the infrastructure beneath the work:
relationships, shared language, trust, and mechanisms for collaboration.

Because that’s what allows impact to compound. 

A Big Tent for a Converging Field 

At the ESHIP Alliance, we see this convergence not as a moment—but as a mandate.

The field doesn’t need to choose between approaches.

It needs a bigger tent.

A space where economic developers, ecosystem builders, main street leaders, capital providers, and community partners can come together—to learn, to align, and to build what comes next.

That’s what the ESHIP Commons is designed to support.

What We’re Celebrating Now 

This Economic Development Week, we’re not just celebrating the work as it has been.

We’re celebrating what it’s becoming.

More connected. More coordinated.  More systemic.

And ultimately—more capable of creating a better economic future for all of us.

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This post is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 and may be shared or republished with attribution.
Photos courtesy J. Chambers

About The Author

Fay Horwitt is a nationally recognized ecosystem builder, strategist, and thought leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing equitable entrepreneurship. She serve as the ESHIP Alliance’s Field Builder-in-Residence, where she leads the development and growth of the ESHIP Commons — a digital platform connecting ecosystem builders and the organizations that support them. She is also the Founder of WayBuilders and has helped shape entrepreneurial ecosystem practices, programs, and tools used in communities across the country. Fay previously served as the first elected Chair of the ESHIP Alliance Leadership Council.