Innovators’ Café will open in early December in Memphis, MO Posted on 11/14/2008
Innovators’ Café, a rural entrepreneur assistance center sponsored by the Northeast Regional Planning Commission (NEMO RPC) and Missouri Rural Enterprise and Innovation Center (MREIC) will open in early December at the NEMO RPC headquarters located at 326 East Jefferson St. in Memphis MO.
“Small businesses define our communities in many ways” said Charlene Boyes, Executive Director of MREIC. “But many potential small business owners and entrepreneurs are scared off by the challenges of starting a business.”
“Rural areas are especially dependent on their small businesses and they’re separated by distance from many resources needed to get a business started. With collaboration between the Innovation Center and the RPC we can offer a place for one-on-one assistance,” said Boyes.
Is it crazy to encourage business start-ups in this economic climate? “… Now more than ever people need options” said Nate Walker Executive Director of NEMO RPC. Walker added that
“ The Innovators’ Café is a pilot project that we hope will provide local and regional entrepreneurs with a place to explore business ideas and help to create additional jobs and strengthen our area’s economy.”
The Innovators’ Café, entrepreneur assistance center, will feature opportunities to network with other entrepreneurs, one-on-one assistance, round-table discussions and programming on business specific topics, including internet-based business opportunities and expansions. The center will feature computers with high-speed internet access and links to numerous resources through the MREIC website. The project will begin December 3rd with an open house at the NEMO RPC headquarters at 326 East Jefferson St. in Memphis MO.
##
The Northeast Regional Planning Commission and Rural Development Corporation (NEMO RPC & RDC) is one of 19 regional planning commissions in the State of Missouri, which are authorized the State of Missouri to formally organize and band together by county to promote the spirit of cooperatively working together to solve problems and plan the future development of regions and the State of Missouri. The six counties of the Northeast Regional Planning Commission and Rural Development Corporation are Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Schuyler and Scotland.
Missouri Rural Enterprise and Innovation Center (MREIC) is a nonprofit corporation organized under the statutes of Missouri and dedicated to serving entrepreneurs in Northeast Missouri. MREIC’s activities are supported by Missouri Department of Economic Development, the City of Kirksville, Adair County Commission, A.T. Still University, Truman State University, Northeast Regional Medical Center, Kirksville Regional Economic Development, Inc., and the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce.
For additional information please contact: Charlene Boyes, cboyes@truman.edu, Executive Director, Missouri Rural Enterprise & Innovation Center (MREIC) at 660.785.4307 and/or Nate Walker, natewalker@nemorpc.org, Executive Director, Northeast Missouri Planning Commission at 660.465.7281
|