Spinning the Web of Supports: Building the Infrastructure of the Social Economy

Abstract

The idea of a web of supports being of central importance to the revitalization and renewal of a particular place, or to the development of social enterprises, has been amply illustrated in several of the contributions thus far. Early in Part One (Concepts and Context), the key economic and social functions relevant to community functioning were identified (4). How the various functions are organized and the extent to which they are linked together on a strategic basis (or not) constitutes key features of the web of supports. At the community or regional level, this web has been referred to in CED circles as the community’s or region’s development system.