Dublin City Council Launches Immigrant Entrepreneurship Survey
U.S. Fulbright Scholar, Professor Jack Pinkowski, Ph.D., announced today the launch of an online survey to measure the interest in entrepreneurship among the new-citizens communities.
Pinkowski is conducting research for the Dublin City Council in order to draft recommendations for polices and plans that may contribute to greater success of new business start-ups, as well as existing business expansion, by immigrant entrepreneurs. Due to increasing multiculturalism resulting from recent immigration, community leaders want to measure the present level of entrepreneurship of foreign nationals and new citizens in order to contribute to policy that will result in greater economic integration of these groups and contribute to economic development.
Pinkowski said “I have found that there are a good deal of resources already established by various authorities in the regional and State government levels, including non-governmental organizations, the universities, and non-profit agencies.” The point of the survey research is to document the extent that existing resources are being used by people who need them and how well the community knows about where to go for answers, help, and business advice.
According to Pinkowski, “There is no need to recommend new initiatives where there are existing ones already in place.” What needs to be done is to determine what is effective and how well prospective entrepreneurs know where to go for assistance. Surveying existing businesses will provide answers regarding what support networks business people have been using. While prospective entrepreneurs can indicate where they are looking for help. The survey, itself, will serve as a single point of reference for many of them to explore the contact points listed for further research in the feasibility of their business ideas and support available from various sources.
The survey will be available online until 27 February at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB228RDJB8KM3. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Dublin City Business Library in the ILAC Center and various agencies around the city. If Internet access is not available, paper copies may be completed and returned to: Jack Pinkowski, Ph.D., Fulbright Scholar in Residence, Dublin City Council, Economic Development Unit, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Block 4, Floor 3, Dublin 8; Telephone (1) 222 2857; email Jack.Pinkowski@dublincity.ie.
According to Pinkowski, the objectives of his work are essentially “To enhance opportunities for business creation and/or expansion by entrepreneurs who were not born in this country.” He is also continuing to host small focus groups on these issues to collect first-hand experiences. If you can commit an hour or two to sharing your opinions about success factors and challenges in starting a business in Dublin, consider joining a focus group on Thursday, 12 February, or Friday, 13 February at the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Block 4, Floor 3, Dublin 8 from 10:00 AM until noon. Advanced registration is required via email to: Jack.Pinkowski@dublincity.ie.
Through your answers in this survey, Professor Pinkowski hopes to identify and document specific areas of public policy that could be implemented or improved to help encourage new citizens to open or expand enterprise and make them more successful. This will benefit residents, consumers, and the public by increasing the economic vitality of the economy and contribute toward the financial integration of new citizens.