Five colleges combine their assets to focus on rural entrepreneurship
They are located in Iowa and include a community college along with four-year colleges.
The Great Plains Entrepreneurial Consortium is a group of small private colleges and one community college that aims to develop a statewide network that encourages entrepreneurship to flourish in Iowa’s rural areas.
According to an article in the Des Moines Business Record, the consortium was conceptualized in 2023 when entrepreneurial leaders at four Iowa colleges — Morningside University, Dordt University, Buena Vista University, and Drake University — got together to discuss how they could collaborate to provide support, networking, education, and events similar to those found at Iowa’s Regent universities.
They then invited the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at North Iowa Area Community College to join as well.
The consortium was funded with part of a $360,650 grant that Morningside University received from the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Entrepreneurial Investment Award program.
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