LANSING – Prima Civitas Foundation on Tuesday awarded ten mini-grants worth $45,000 to Mid-Michigan organizations that will host a variety of Entrepreneur and Inventor Days to showcase new businesses or hot new technologies.
The awards are funded by a grant received from the C.S. Mott Foundation in October 2007. A competitive bid process was announced in December for regional higher education and related institutions who would host an Entrepreneur or Inventor Day in order to spur innovation by fostering investment in talent development and cultural change.
Funded proposals received from across the region will either showcase individuals? and firms? business development efforts during an Inventors Day or provide a platform for funding pitches to actual investors during an Entrepreneur Day.
?These ten proposals will create significant opportunities throughout the Mid-Michigan region for entrepreneurs of all walks of life who will help create the new Michigan economy,? said President David Hollister. ?An entrepreneurial spirit will be the backbone of our economy and these proposals will further the tremendous work that is already being done to help spur Michigan?s economy.?
Organizations that received a mini-grant include: Central Michigan University, Delta College, Michigan Futures Seminar of the James Madison College at MSU, MSU Extension Center in Huron County, MSU RSPPA Program, M-Team of Meridian Township, Saginaw Valley State University, ThumbWorks! Michigan Works Agency, University of Michigan-Flint Launch Program, and a combined proposal from Baker College, Jackson Community College, and Spring Arbor University. A brief summary of each proposal is included as Attachment A.
Each organization will be included in Prima Civitas Foundation?s upcoming Commercialization Conference on April 9 at the Henry Center in Lansing, Michigan. Scheduled Entrepreneur and Inventor Days will be announced by individual organizations at a later date.
Established in 2006, the Prima Civitas Foundation is a regional community and economic development collaborative committed to putting Mid-Michigan first. PCF activities include administrative management of the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team in addition to activities aimed at diversifying Mid-Michigan’s economy and promoting job growth.
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