lookout point
ENTREPRENEURS WANTED
Grant provides local opportunities By Jackie Stark
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ntrepreneurs looking Northern Michigan University, to start a company InvestUP, and Innovation Shore without having to leave Angel Network (ISAN) for the the Upper Peninsula will soon grant’s vision, and also regularly find themselves with new receives support from local opportunities for investment, and state partners including thanks to a three-year, $611,000 Accelerate UP, Lake Superior Capital Challenge Grant, offered Community Partnership, through the U.S. Economic the Central Upper Peninsula Development Administration’s Planning & Development Build to Scale program. Regional Commission, the “The real way I think we’re Superior Watershed Partnership going to build our local economy and Land Conservancy, is through new business, new Michigan Economic start-ups, especially in the high- Development Corporation, tech space,” said Joe Theil, CEO and the City of Marquette. of Innovate Marquette, which “We are thrilled to learn Innovate worked with the Center on Rural Marquette has won a Build to Innovation to apply for the grant. Scale Capital Challenge grant,” “I think we’re going t o said Leah Taylor, CORI’s head of create a lot more jobs in that model I think we’re going to than we would in trying to attract large create a lot more jobs organizations here.” in that model than we The grant will go a long way in helping new start- would in trying to attract ups get off the ground, as large organizations here. it will be used to create a new professional investment digital economy consulting, program that will help provide in the release. “It takes vision the funding start-ups need. and leadership to bring together According to an Innovate disparate assets and partners Marquette press release, Innovate into a cohesive ecosystem Marquette worked with the Center for the Upper Peninsula.” on Rural Innovation (CORI) With the $611,911 provided to apply for the grant as part of by the Capital Challenge grant CORI’s 2021 Rural Innovation and matching funds, Innovate Initiative, a technical assistance Marquette plans to use the program empowering rural new resources for the Make communities to create inclusive it Marquette Start to Scale digital economies that support (Marquette STS) project, which scalable entrepreneurship and will leverage educational, tech job creation. Innovate economic development and Marquette partnered with capital investor partnerships.
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November 2021
Marquette Monthly
57
