Entrepreneurship, Incubation and Innovation Task Team meeting

Our next Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Incubation task team meeting will be Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 10 am in the Chamber Board Room. 

At our meeting today, Reagan Lonnergan presented prospective locations for incubation throughout the Gadsden area, and the pros and cons of each were discussed.Jason Wilson also presented a concept for opportunity zone funding. Next steps include a meeting with Christie Knowles to determine the structure of a fund organization in anticipation of a larger pitch meeting to representatives of opportunity zone fund investors and potential investors. A few task team members will also be meeting with an individual property owner to learn more about their private investment plans and partnerships for a property they are acquiring in Gadsden that is not within the Opportunity Zone. 


Bethanne Mashburn and New reported that seed funding for up to 31 5th grade classrooms throughout the county had been secured for the 5th grade entrepreneur fair, and all school systems are excited to participate. In the inaugural year, 5th grade teachers will make application to participate and will be selected up to the funded volume. 

Jonathan Tang will be reaching out to Corey James of Innovation PortAL to learn more about their Startup Weekend modules and how we may be able to bring one to Etowah County.