Huntington University Launches New Center For Entrepreneurs

The university says the center will also provide limited business incubation help including low-cost office space and services.

Source: Inside INdiana Business

Press Release

HUNTINGTON, IN — Huntington County United Economic Development Corporation (HCUED) and Huntington University have announced the creation of the Resource Center for Entrepreneurs as part of the Enterprise Resource Center at Huntington University.

Ned Kiser, vice president for advancement at Huntington University described the new facility, “The Resource Center for Entrepreneurs will focus on providing assistance for new business ventures in the Huntington County area. In addition to giving guidance on business plan development and acquiring needed start-up capital, the Center will also provide limited business incubation help such as low-cost office space and shared services.”

Carol Pugh, Executive Director of HCUED, notes, “Huntington County has a rich history of local entrepreneurs building businesses that have enhanced the economy of our community. One of HCUED's goals is to develop a system that will utilize local and regional resources to help foster a new generation of local entrepreneurs. We are very excited by the possibilities that the Resource Center for Entrepreneurs and the partnerships it is developing will bring to our community.”

In the planning stages since 2004, local area funding and regional partners have combined to make the Center a reality, according to Kiser. “HCUED led the effort in securing a $100,000 grant from the Indiana Rural Development Council (IRDC) and partial matching funds from the Huntington County Commissioners. HCUED is the recipient and fiscal agent for these grant funds and is partnering with Huntington University to launch the Resource Center for Entrepreneurs.”

“We are also partnering with the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC), a business incubator and accelerator headquartered in Fort Wayne, and with the Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center at Indiana University / Purdue University in Fort Wayne (IPFW). Both organizations will provide entrepreneurial development expertise to our staff here at Huntington University, and NIIC will be establishing a Huntington “node” with an office in the University’s Enterprise Resource Center.”

According to Mr. Kiser, the Resource Center for Entrepreneurs has the ultimate goal of invigorating the Huntington County economy with new jobs and business opportunities. “Like most of northeast Indiana, the Huntington County economy has traditionally been driven by manufacturing and agriculture, but we see the real future growth of our area coming from entrepreneurial start-ups and new ventures by established businesses. The Resource Center for Entrepreneurs is one innovative way that Huntington University is actively involved in the economic development of Huntington County and the surrounding area.”

For more information on the Resource Center for Entrepreneurs and other community development and outreach programs of Huntington University, contact Mr. Kiser at 260-359-4044, or by e-mail, nkiser@huntington.edu .

About HCUED

The mission of Huntington County United Economic Development is to foster cooperation, education, and coordination of the public and private sectors; to promote and encourage retention and expansion of existing businesses; and to support attraction of new resources for diverse economic development that will enable Huntington County to prosper as a community. For additional information, visit their Web site: www.huntingtonecondev.com

About Huntington University

Founded in 1897, Huntington University is a Christian college of liberal arts offering a wide range of undergraduate degree programs spanning Business, History and Political Science, Visual Arts and Communication, Mathematics, Science, and Physical Education, as well as numerous undergrad and post- graduate degrees in Christian Ministry. U.S. News and World Report ranks Huntington University among the best comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. The campus is located on the north side of Huntington, Indiana. For more information, visit their Web site: www.huntington.edu.

About The Innovation Center

The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC), located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a regional technology business incubator whose mission is to accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services. The Innovation Center’s main goal is to produce successful firms that will leave the incubation program financially viable and freestanding, ready to bring new jobs and investment to Northeast Indiana. NIIC now has three locations: the original campus at 1410 Production Road, a new second campus at 3201 Stellhorn Road, adjacent to IPFW, and their most recent branch at Huntington University. For more information, visit their Web site: www.niic.net.

Source: Huntington University