West Texas A&M University Enterprise Center University The West Texas M A& University investment and 300 jobs to the region. West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) Enterprise Center applies The Enterprise Center also delivers its Center Director the principles of business incubation David Terry services in the wider community. For as a catalyst for innovation and example, it uses consultants who travel Center Location College of Business entrepreneurial development in order to rural communities weekly to provide to foster economic growth for technical assistance and consulting for Center since 2010 Amarillo and the Texas panhandle aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. region. The Center seeks to be a The Idea Village program uses group leader in providing business resources coaching nd a training to teach and linkages among economic technology transfer and Center Activities development organizations in the commercialization skills to Technical assistance Entrepreneurship support broader community. entrepreneurs in the -‐ pre incubation Innovation and Activities commercialization support The Enterprise Center’s focus is Training Incubator facilitating technical assistance and 25% facili�es and training for entrepreneurs through a services variety of programs and services. It 40% Technical especially targets growth-‐oriented, Assistance Clients 35% Entrepreneurs basic industry businesses that export Start-‐ups goods and services outside the region. Existing businesses Its primary program is providing Faculty and students incubator facilities for entrepreneurs stage. Entrepreneurs can also apply for and start-‐ups – including office space, matching scholarship dollars to assist production ace, sp -‐ co working space, them with bookkeeping, legal assistance, marketing, and other Contact Information and a commercial kitchen. Services www.incubationworks.com are provided from -‐ the pre incubation needs. Other services include monthly [email protected] to graduation phase. Since its “Lunch & Learn” entrepreneur founding, incubator clients have networking events and the Amarillo
brought over $5 million in capital EnterPrize Challenge business plan
FY 2012
competition (which provides up to Leveraging Network, Texas Panhandle Regional $500,000 in capital funding grants for The Enterprise Center collaborates Development Corporation, and entrepreneurs seeking to expand or with over 65 services providers and others. Membership and launch a business). The Center also resources for entrepreneurs in the collaboration with business focuses on building an region and worldwide. Regional incubation professionals in the entrepreneurial partners National Business Incubation culture among that assist in Association (NBIA) provide the Center “Wonderful to have experienced youth, through program and its clients with access to a wide minds helping me pitfalls. avoid ” programs such as a and service network f o resources and best -‐-‐Center Client youth delivery practices. entrepreneurship include the fair, a student business plan Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, competition, and a youth internship Amarillo EDC, Amarillo College, program. WTAMU SBDC, West Texas Angel
Success
Culinary -‐ Co op incubator facilities facilities include a -‐ shared use at the Culinary Co-‐op. and support distribution warehouse space and By providing the specialized A recent addition to the incubator collaborative co-‐working area in facilities required by space at WTAMU’s Enterprise addition to the health department entrepreneurs in the food sector, Center is the Culinary -‐ Co op. This approved, fully-‐equipped commercial kitchen, which opened commercial kitchen. A developing combined with specialized
in June 2012, offers -‐ a shared use partnership with the Dallas Market entrepreneurial training and kitchen available to rent 24 hours Center is expected to connect food support, WTAMU’s Enterprise
per day. This is the -‐ first shared use entrepreneurs at the Culinary -‐ Co op Center is supporting commercial kitchen in the region. with broader distribution resources entrepreneurial growth and Culinary -‐ Co op is designed to and channels. One client of the catalyzing an emerging food provide culinary entrepreneurs with Culinary -‐ Co op, Fanelli’s Finest, has cluster in the region. kitchen space and the necessary received a patent for its lasagna
tools to develop and successfully sauce and now has products in more than 700 stores nationwide. This commercialize food products. Its range of services extend -‐ from pre family-‐based business produces, incubation to post-‐graduation, and bottles, and labels all of its products
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