The Fairfield Entrepreneurs Association is one of the best examples of peer-networked entrepreneurial development in a rural community. It has attracted over $260 million of investment in hundreds of new businesses and created 4,000 new jobs. Keep in mind that Fairfield is less than 10,000 population. Fairfield is considered the home of "open source entrepreneurial development", the entrepreneurial capital of Iowa and "Silicorn Valley."

FEA has created an entrepreeurial development system that includes:

Idea Bounces

Networking and Mentoring Events

Seminars and Workshops

Boot Camps for Entrepreneurs, Art-Preneurs and Food-Preneurs

CEO Roundtable

Fairfield Investors Roundtable

Entrepreneur Hall of Fame

Community-based investment fund

Entrepreneurial Development Trust

Entrepreneurial Development Corporation


Fairfield is considered the organic, non-gmo capital of the U.S. Companies like Genetic ID are headaquartered there. It is home to the Abundance EcoVillage and the premier organic farmer's market in the U.S. Fairfield has more restaurants, per capita, than San Francisco. Many of them feature locally grown organic food.

Fairfield is host of the National Rural Entrepreneurial Gathering. It is a peer-support network for professionals and activists on topics such as local economy, economic gardening, technology transfer and venture capital