Oklahoma Extension Development Resources: June 2012

Monday, June 25, 2012

tech entrepreneurs program

Blueprint for Business Now Accepting Program Applications

Media Contact:
Sam Sims, APR
ssims@bp4b.com
405-749-1105

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 23, 2012) – Technology entrepreneurs seeking to expand their companies may submit applications for Blue Print for Business’ (BP4B) mentoring and growth program starting in August 2012.

Submit applications via http://bp4b.com/apply.html. For optimal consideration, the early application deadline is June 24. Final application deadline is July 8.

Twice a year, BP4B seeks to fund 10 companies with exceptional and outstanding entrepreneurs who will build great companies and teams. With more than $165,000 in perks and incentives, each selected company could receive up to $25,000 in capital investment.

Guy Madison, BP4B managing partner, saw Oklahoma’s technology sector as a great place to foster community and a vibrant business climate.

“With our focus on cultivating greatness among the technology industry, we’ve set out to engage successful businesses and leaders with entrepreneurs desiring growth,” said Madison.

Blueprint for Business is an intense mentorship-driven, seed-stage startup accelerator taking companies from the concept stage to seed funding during a three-month program. For additional information on Blue Print for Business, visit http://www.bp4b.com.

Assistant Professor and Extension Economist

Department of Agricultural Economics

Oklahoma State University

323 Ag Hall

Stillwater, OK 74078

405-744-6170

http://rd.okstate.edu

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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

FW: Obama Administration Announces $6 Million i6 Challenge to Spur High-Growth Entrepreneurship

EDA announces a new grant opportunity to establish one Proof of Concept Center per region (we are served by the Austin Regional Office, which serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). A minimum of 1:1 matching funds from non-Federal sources is required, and the deadline is July 20, 2012.

The full Federal Funding Opportunity is available here:

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=pt6rPXYBTqxZqv1YCLrdnYJBgkysdd2yvpqQxThnqpcgDNhpJglh!-2018416081?oppId=175993&mode=VIEW

U.S. Economic Development Administration - Innovate@EDA Monthly Update

Tuesday, Jun 12, 2012

$6 Million i6 Challenge to Spur High-Growth
Entrepreneurship

The Obama Administration today announced the third round of the i6 Challenge to promote American innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and increase the commercialization of ideas into viable companies. The $6 million competition seeks to develop Proof of Concept Centers and create a network of experts to support innovators and researchers; spur sustainable startups, small businesses, and new ventures; expand access to capital to fuel growth; connect mentors and education to entrepreneurs; and spark job creation.

Six winning teams will be awarded up to $1 million each for innovative proposals to create and expand Proof of Concept Centers, such as the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The application deadline is July 20, 2012. Details are available here.

The competition is being led by the U.S. Commerce Department Economic Development Administration's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in partnership with Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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Monday, June 11, 2012

Opportunities and issues associated with Latino business development webinar

_______________________________________________
entrepreneursandtheircommunities-members mailing list
entrepreneursandtheircommunities-members@lists.extension.org
https://www.extension.org/people/lists/entrepreneursandtheircommunities-members

Greetings all -- This Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 2:00pm (ET); 1:00pm(CT); 12:00pm (MT); 11:00am (PT) we will be concluding our 2011/2012 webinar season with Timorthy Boritch, Ph.D and Himar Hernandez of the Iowa State University Extension Community and Economic Development as we examines the issues related to the financing and technical assistance needs of underserved entrepreneurs. Many regions of the US are experiencing growing immigrant populations in non-metro communities. Entrepreneurs from these groups appear to lack strong social and business ties to the traditional sources of business finance and technical assistance. Similarly bankers, technical assistance providers and others may be unaware of the economic potential of these entrepreneurs and be missing key opportunities in reaching them and providing services effectively. The North Central program is working to help assess these issues and offer guidance in how the financing and technical assistance needs of the under-served entrepreneur might be met.. To join the session go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop about 10 minutes prior to the start time. At the login screen use the "Enter as Guest" option and type your full name into the box and click "Enter Room" to join the conference.

This webinar will focus upon the opportunities and issues associated with Latino business development and entrepreneurship. Himar and Tim will discuss many of the emerging issues associated with the growth of the Hispanic population in the Midwest and the concurrent growth of Latino businesses. Drawing upon both a) a recent roundtable session between some of the region’s Federal Reserve staff and Extension faculty, b) community focus groups conducted through Federal Reserve, and the experiences of Extension programming focused upon Latino business and community development in Iowa, a series of suggested programmatic directions will be articulated. Input into the continuing regional study will be solicited of webinar participants.

No pre-registration is required and there is no fee to participate. About 10 minutes prior to the start time simply go the Adobe Connect Pro meeting room at https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/etc-cop. You will be presented with a login screen that has an "Enter as Guest" option. Enter your full name then click "Enter Room" to join the conference. You will be able to hear the audio directly from your computer’s speakers.

Friday, June 8, 2012

USDA-RD Rural Business Opportunity Grant

Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG)

The primary objective of the RBOG program is to promote sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.

Grant funds must be used for projects in rural areas and they can be used for:
   - Community economic development
   - Technology-based economic development
   - Feasibility studies and business plans
   - Leadership and entrepreneur training
   - Rural business incubators
   - Long-term business strategic planning

Due date: 8/6

Max Grant Amount: $50,000

RFP - http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_RBOG.html

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Webinar: Creating Rural Wealth (6/12/12)

FYI

“Creating Rural Wealth”

When: Tuesday, June 12, 2012

2:00-3:00 pm ET/1:00-2:00 pm CT/12:00-1:00 pm MT/11:00 am -12:00 pm PT.

On Tuesday, June 12th from 2:00-3:00 EST, the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE), in cooperation with Montana State University, will host a webinar discussing rural wealth creation.

In an effort to encourage rural communities to achieve sustainable prosperity, it requires creating and maintaining wealth. The one hour event will encourage dialog from policy makers, development funders, researchers and practitioners on the topic of how to create, maintain, and improve rural livelihoods. This webinar complements the First Quarter 2012 issue of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) peer-reviewed science magazine Choices - http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/rural-wealth-creation.

Speakers:

Moderator – Dr. Bruce Weber, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oregon State University

“Wealth Creation: A New Lens for Rural Development” – Dr. John Pender, USDA Economic Research Service

This presentation will describe why creating and maintaining wealth are essential for sustainable and broadly shared rural prosperity.

“Wealth, Entrepreneurship, and Rural Livelihoods” – Dr. Deborah M. Markley, Managing Director and co-founder of the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The talk will address the impact of different forms of wealth on entrepreneurship rates, and make the connection between entrepreneurship and improved rural livelihoods.

Please join us for this exciting event!

Pre-registration is not required, simply join the webinar on the day of the event by visiting:

http://www.msuextensionconnect.org/cfare/

When you click on this link, the screen that appears will ask you to log in. Use the Enter as guest option, type in your name and then click the Enter Room button.

The presentations will be saved using web-seminar technology.

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The Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the national presence of the agricultural economics profession. C-FARE's governing board includes prominent agricultural economists representing a wide range of public and private sector interests. www.cfare.org

C-FARE

202-408-8522

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North Central Regional Center for Rural Development

Agriculture Hall

446 W. Circle Drive, Room 66

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 48824

517.355.3373

http://NCRCRD.org

ncrcrd@anr.msu.edu

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=81941506229

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma. This publication is issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President, Dean, and Director of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.