LANSING – The Prima Civitas Foundation has received a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation in the amount of $200,000 to create an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and commercialization within the region’s universities.
This grant is a renewal of last year?s $250,000 grant funded by the Mott Foundation that introduced the Moving Ideas to Market initiative to the region, and that created five action groups that will move forward in creating a next-generation, dynamic region that supports commercial efforts of university research and intellectual property.
PCF, using its extensive network through the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team will partner with Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and the Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network to lead the five action groups throughout the next year.
These groups include: (1) the EnGen group, focused on post-secondary entrepreneurship education; (2) the Youth/K12 Entrepreneurship Education team, primarily focused on entrepreneurship education at the high school level; (3) Jumpstart, focused on developing a network that will accelerate early-stage ideas and business relationships with angel investors and venture capitalists; (4) University/Industry Partnerships, focused on building social and working relationships with key leaders from the business and university sectors; and (5) the WeToo team, focused on development of the WeToo web feature that will link entrepreneurs and their service providers with regional resources.
Creating an environment focused on entrepreneurship and commercialization is no easy task, and the Mott Foundation?s commitment to the redevelopment of the region?s economic base is evident through this generous grant.
?We know that we can?t change the culture in one year or grant period, but I am confident that a consistent tactical approach toward reinventing our entrepreneurship and commercialization strategies will pay off for the region,? said David Hollister, CEO and President of the Prima Civitas Foundation. ?Mott?s commitment, and the commitment of our partners and regional universities, moves us significantly forward.?
Work on the initiative has already begun, with continuous engagement of the five action teams who will work throughout the next year to develop a large-scale, robust strategic plan to implement specific actions throughout the region. Members of these action groups, who largely represent university, private industry, and economic development sectors, will work collectively to create a single, multi-faceted strategy to bring about actual change and development within the region?s economic base through the commercialization venue.
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, the Mid-Michigan Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development initiative, in addition to activities aimed at diversifying Mid-Michigan’s economy and promoting job growth.
PCF supports the expansion of industries such as next generation transportation, alternative energy, biomass, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and homeland security. In particular, PCF aims to position Mid-Michigan as a world leader in the post-petroleum economy.
For more information, click on PrimaCivitas.Org
a>>
