Entrepreneurial League System(ELS)
What is the Entrepreneurial League System® of Central Louisiana?
The Rapides Foundation launched the Entrepreneurial League System® of Central Louisiana on July 1, 2006. The Entrepreneurial League System® (ELS) is an innovative approach that transforms local and regional economies by developing entrepreneurs’ skills, creating successful companies and building entrepreneurial communities. ELS of Central Louisiana continues to be funded by The Rapides Foundation and is managed by the Cenla Advantage Partnership (CAP).
Modeled after the farm system in baseball, the Entrepreneurial League System® helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses by developing their skills. Individual entrepreneurs, based on their skill in creating or growing a business, become a member of one of four teams: Rookies, A, AA, and AAA.
The ELS coaching program is tailored to meet the unique needs of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs work intensively with Performance Coaches who are themselves skilled entrepreneurs, in weekly one-on-one sessions and monthly team meetings with peers. They also attend bi-annual large group sessions comprised of entrepreneurs from other teams possessing different skill levels. These settings offer opportunities to learn from peers, as well as from more experienced individuals regarding advancement to the next level of skill and performance.
The ELS role in the larger system is not to replace existing economic development services, but to create better customers for those providers of technical and financial assistance, in both the private as well as the public/non-profit sectors. The Entrepreneurial League System® helps build the demand on the part of entrepreneurs for service providers.