The Mahaska Chamber and Development Group and the Center on Rural Innovation are partnering to host an Idea Lab event to provide aspiring business owners guidance and resources to launch their companies. The free event is part of a broader effort to cultivate entrepreneurship in rural areas and address gaps in resources and mentorship, a news release said. The Center on Rural Innovation will involve two experienced representatives who specialize in helping rural entrepreneurs generate, test and refine their business ideas. Participants at the Idea Lab will learn how to evaluate the viability of their business ideas, identify key challenges and explore strategic next steps with a focus on practical applications. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Center on Rural Innovation to offer this event. Mahaska County is one of the leaders in the state for unique patents and innovations and partnering with CORI could foster the next generation of entrepreneurs,” Deann DeGroot, executive director of the Mahaska Chamber and Development Group, said in a prepared statement. The event is on Oct. 8 at William Penn University’s Musco Technology Center, 201 W. Trueblood Ave. Attendees can choose from two sessions held from 9 a.m. to noon and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact DeGroot at ddegroot@mahaskachamber.org.
