The NIACC John Pappajohn
Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)

Whether you are thinking about starting a business or growing an existing company, the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, offers business tools and educational opportunities to assist you. From exploring financial resources, business plan development and networking sessions, the staff at the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center are eager to meet with you to discuss your business operation. JPEC is located on the North Iowa Area Community College campus in Mason City, Iowa.

Ultimate Sales Academy®

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Inaugural i2iowa Investors
and Innovators Forum

The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced today the inaugural i2iowa Investors and Innovators Forum scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 2012. The forum will match up various stage-entrepreneurs with investors and funding resources. Entrepreneurs seeking growth funding are encouraged to apply to present by the February 7, 2012 deadline.

The i2iowa will bring attention to the state’s best investment-ready companies, and will connect investors with a portfolio of Iowa companies in the following tracks:

• Life and Bio Sciences
• Information Technology
• Advanced Manufacturing
• General Business

Interested in presenting? Entrepreneurs at any stage of business should go to i2iowa.org for more information and to apply online.

For more information contact Lyn Schneider at (515) 280-7702 or by email at lyn@technologyiowa.org.

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NIACC JPEC Incubator Awarded
 Mott Foundation Grant

 The NIACC JPEC Business Incubator was recently awarded a Mott Foundation Grant to help develop the concept of a virtual incubator, a business incubator unlimited by space. NIACC was one of ten colleges across the nation selected for this honor. The AACC initiative was recognized in a White House announcement on January 31 as an example of creative entrepreneurship to be encouraged by the new StartUP America Partnership “to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation,” as part of the Obama Administration’s national innovation strategy.

 The idea of a virtual incubator recognizes that incubation and business assistance services do not need to be confined to a traditional brick-and-mortar facility. Through a virtual incubator, NIACC JPEC staff and partners can deliver services and information at a business location, meeting the client/industry where needed through hybrid (face, time and technology) mechanisms. In particular, virtual incubation facilitates the emergence of multiple new businesses in geographically isolated, depressed and hard-to-serve communities and increases access for the people who most can benefit from their results. This project will expand the services of the North Iowa Business Incubator and the NIACC JPEC.  Read more

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