Scott County CDA’s Center for Entrepreneurship WINS the 2023 InBIA International Support Organization of the Year Award!
The Scott County CDA’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) has been declared the winner for the 2023 International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) Entrepreneur Support Organization of the Year Award. InBIA is a global non-profit with over 1,200 members that leads entrepreneurship support organizations in 30 countries.
At their 37th annual International Conference on Business Incubation, that was held April 23-26th in Detroit Michigan, the InBIA recognized outstanding entrepreneurship support organizations that have demonstrated significant impact on their local economies. The Scott County CFE is honored to accept this award
The Scott County Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) was created in July 2021, as a program of the Scott County CDA. The Scott County CFE supports the growth of emerging businesses in an entrepreneurial environment that encourages collaboration, fosters job creation, and provides connections to key resources. The CFE expanded on a previous business incubator program, Technology Village, which was created by the City of Prior Lake, and now includes a variety of mixed-use, first-stage businesses from across Scott County.
The CFE offers several programs including the Scott County Business Accelerator which assists members through mentorship, educational programming, and small business grants either as tenants in the CFE or as virtual members; Next Stage which offers free business advisory services for all Scott County businesses and the annual Scott County FAST-TRACK Challenge Business Pitch competition. The CFE is located in the Dean Lakes Education Center, located along US Highway 169 in Shakopee.
The CFE attributes its success to the many partnerships and volunteers. A nine-member volunteer Advisory Board provides support and mentorship to accelerator businesses. Collaboration with organizations such as SW Metro Intermediate District #288, who provides the space for the program, the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) who provides funding through the Small Business Partnership Program, Launch MN (DEED) who provides technical assistance and access to funding, area cities, Chambers of Commerce and businesses who help in promoting programs and serve as sponsors for the annual FAST-TRACK Challenge.
“We are thrilled to be selected as the winner for the InBIA Entrepreneur Support Organization of the Year Award,” said Julie Siegert, CDA Executive Director. “The Center for Entrepreneurship is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed, and this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all CFE staff, current and past. Our management team has been instrumental to the CFE becoming a finalist for this international award. It speaks volumes of the people and the services our Agency is able to provide to Scott County as a whole.”
To learn more about the Scott County Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) visit https://scottcda.org/center-for-entrepreneurship/ or contact Michael Werneke, Business Development Manager at mwerneke@scottcda.org or Jo Foust, Business & Community Development Director at jfoust@scottcda.org Information on the FAST-TRACK Challenge may be found at: www.ScottCountyFastTrack.org
