innovationIOWA to feature three rural entrepreneurs across the state
In recent years, encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in rural Iowa has been a priority for state leaders and other innovation stakeholders.
It was the subject of a recent conference at Iowa State University and of keen interest to state leaders in Iowa that want to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in all parts of the state.
Also, a panel of four organizations has been – and will continue to — travel the state for a “road show” to educate both rural and urban parts of Iowa on the State Small Business Credit
Initiative (SSBCI) programs, and how lenders, business owners, economic developers and venture capitalists can engage with the funds to encourage investments and innovation in Iowa.
Those organizations are the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Iowa Small Business Development Center, InnoVenture Iowa and VentureNet Iowa.
The road show, which includes 30 locations the team will visit in person, started on July 31 and runs through Nov. 7.
“It’s been IEDA’s mission to get these programs out in front of our rural entrepreneurs,” said Anna Lensing, innovation team lead at IEDA. “Our job at IEDA is to ensure that all Iowa entrepreneurs have the ability to succeed. That’s providing opportunities, but also access to resources for all Iowans in their community. There’s always events taking place in Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City. We see those a lot, and we love to participate in those, but we thought it was important to get out into rural communities so that people had the opportunity to stop out over lunch or during breakfast and learn about these programs in-person in their neighborhood.”
“We believe that rural entrepreneurship builds resilient, sustainable communities, and that really is the heart of who we are in Iowa, but also at IEDA.”
Over the next three weeks, our Rural Innovators series will delve into the leaders, entrepreneurs and risk-takers who are making headway in rural Iowa.
Have an idea about rural entrepreneurship in Iowa? Email Lisa Rossi at lisarossi@bpcdm.com.
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