Economic Development Corporations
Type A and Type B EDCs looking to add or strengthen entrepreneurship programming.
Ecosystem Development
Great communities don't just attract businesses.
They build the conditions for every business to survive and grow.
We design and deliver ecosystem development for EDCs, chambers, cities, and the organizations that anchor them, including supplier networks, business retention programs, vendor infrastructure, and the entrepreneur pipelines that feed them. The goal is always the same: measurable outcomes for your entire business community.
The risk isn't enthusiasm — it's launching programs before you understand what you're funding.
Built for the organizations responsible for an entire business community.
If you're an EDC, chamber, or city, your entire business community is counting on you. Not just your startups. Every employer, every supplier, every business trying to grow past 10 people and not sure how. That's who this work is for. When you invest in ecosystem development, you're building something the whole community feels, and the whole community wins when it works.
Chambers of Commerce
Chambers wanting to deliver real value to small business members beyond networking events.
Cities & Municipal Governments
Cities investing in local economic resilience and small business community growth.
Universities & Community Colleges
Institutions building student and community entrepreneurship programs with measurable outcomes.
How ecosystem development works
2–3 Week Engagement
Understand what exists — and where the real gaps are.
Before launching anything new, we audit your current business ecosystem:
- Existing programs, networks, and partnerships
- Stakeholder and participant interviews
- Supplier and vendor ecosystem mapping
- Gaps between stated goals and measurable outcomes
You'll know exactly where your ecosystem stands — and where credibility or funding risk sits — before investing in expansion.
Investment is scoped to community size, existing infrastructure, and engagement depth.
4–8 Week Engagement
Turn chaos into clarity.
We translate insights into a structured roadmap:
- Clear business ecosystem framework
- Prioritized initiatives aligned with staff capacity
- Partnership models that reduce redundancy
- Metrics tied to real outcomes
You'll leave with a strategic plan your board can fund — and your community can trust.
Investment is scoped to community size, existing infrastructure, and engagement depth.
Monthly Retainer
Translate strategy into execution.
We don't disappear after the deck — we help you activate:
- Staff onboarding and facilitation frameworks
- Vendor coordination without duplication
- Ongoing optimization based on engagement data
- Quarterly strategic alignment sessions
Your ecosystem evolves — instead of stalling after launch.
Investment is scoped to community size, existing infrastructure, and engagement depth.
Technology we build
The platform that runs what we help you build.
ChatEDC, a HEART Advisory Group product — Purpose-built platform for EDCs, chambers, and city economic development offices — replacing HubSpot, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools.
Available now for EDCs, chambers, and city economic development offices.
- BRE Management
- Incentive Application Workflows
- Entrepreneurship Program Management
- Contact Management
- LMS
- AI/RAG Engine
Request a demo View all products → Visit chatedc.org (opens in new tab)
Enhancements
Optional Enhancements
Monthly Office Hours
Direct access for staff and leadership on ecosystem decisions and troubleshooting.
Annual Strategic Refresh
Year-end ecosystem review, KPI audit, and updated roadmap recommendations.
Pricing for standalone services is available on request. Request a Quote →
Your community deserves infrastructure that works for every business trying to grow.
We build it, and we stay until it works.
Connect your entire business community, employers, suppliers, and the entrepreneurs among them, with the infrastructure they have been missing. That is when a community stops depending on outside investment and starts generating its own.