In an effort to address the systematic challenges that make it hard to start and grow local businesses in rural communities, the Kansas Leadership Center has embarked on a two-week listening tour with stops in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.

The KLC will be in Marshalltown at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 29th at Van Gogh’s at 129 East Main Street.

The event is free and open to the public.

The tour marks the opening phase of “Heartland Together,” a partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to strengthen support for entrepreneurs in these four midwestern states.

From now through April 5th, KLC facilitators will conduct listening sessions in more than 20 communities to elevate the conversation of healthy entrepreneurial ecosystems and build local civic engagement capacity.