02.21.19
Indiana Economic Development Corporation Extends Certified Technology Park Status to Northeast Indiana Innovation Center through December 31, 2021
Tammy Y. Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
February 21, 2019, Fort Wayne, Ind.—The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) completed its re-certification review of The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC) and extends Certified Tech Park status to The NIIC through December 31, 2021. “The IEDC appreciates the efforts to support the growth and to help diversify Indiana’s technology sector. We look forward to continued collaboration with The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center and Northeast Indiana,” said Mark Wasky, Vice President & Counsel, Government & Community Affairs, IEDC.
The Northeast Indiana Certified Tech Park (CTP) contributes to the regional economy through many key areas, like payroll and employment, capital investment, innovation and synergies. Innovators and business builders in the region have worked through the CTP located at The NIIC to launch 444 new products, been connected to over $42.6 million in research grants and $44.2 million in capital and early-stage investments. These businesses have a 91.9 percent survivability rate and a nearly 99 percent business retention rate of businesses staying in The NIIC’s service area. Total client payroll since The NIIC’s initial Certified Tech Park designation has exceeded $114 million. Click here for The NIIC Fact Sheet.
“The NIIC acknowledges and appreciates the confidence and trust instilled in us by the IEDC to continue our role as a community hub for credible and growth-oriented business builders, connecting them to important resources and partnerships,” said Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC). “Through the leadership and commitment of the Governor and the Indiana State legislature, the statewide Certified Tech Parks are workforce and job engines providing vital resources to entrepreneurs including capital, talent, workspaces and networks. By advancing the diversification of Indiana’s economy into innovative and knowledge-based industries, The NIIC supports the creation of higher quality, higher paying jobs and companies in Northeast Indiana.” The NIIC is one of 23 Certified Tech Parks in Indiana.
About The NIIC
The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community. We help business builders and entrepreneurs launch and grow successful business ventures. We are located in a designated U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone. In April 2018, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated The Northeast Indiana Innovation Park Campus as an Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. The NIIC was formed in 1999 by a consortium of community and government leaders and organizations and was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine in 2013 as one of the top four under-the-radar incubators in the country. Entrepreneur magazine, with the help of International Business Incubation Association (InBIA) picked four U.S. incubators to highlight. We were one of them. The NIIC is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.
About WEOC
The Women’s Entrepreneurial Opportunity Center (WEOC) serves Northeast Indiana women at all stages of their business ventures. WEOC responds to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs through business growth coaching, training and education, connectivity, mentoring and access to capital. In October 2017, the name changed to Women’s Entrepreneurial (instead of Economic) Opportunity Center to better reflect who and how we serve. WEOC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. As the Host organization, The NIIC also provides funding and supplemental and complementary resources for WEOC, an SBA designated Women’s Business Center—one of two in Indiana. For more information, visit www.inweoc.com.
