06.25.20
Indiana Incubator Receives Global Recognition, InBIA Presents Two Awards to The NIIC
Tammy Allen, Director | Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
For immediate release
June 25, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.— Today the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) awarded the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (The NIIC) two awards: the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award and the Entrepreneur Center of the Year 2020: Mixed Use Award. Charles Ross, InBIA Interim President, announced the awards during the 34th International Conference on Business Incubation during a fireside chat. “Thank you for leading by example and providing inspiration to entrepreneurs across the globe,” said Ross. The InBIA recognizes high-impact, member organizations at the annual International Conference of Business Incubation. This year’s conference is being held virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is an honor for The NIIC, our clients, partners, funders, and our team to be recognized by our peers at the International Business Innovation Association for the 2020 Dinah Adkins Award and the Entrepreneur Center of the Year 2020: Mixed-Use. Our clients at The NIIC have created economic and community impact and contributed greatly to our mission of higher quality, higher paying jobs and companies,” said Karl R. LaPan, President and CEO, The NIIC.
“We are so appreciative of the visible and prestigious incubation community recognition, to bring inclusive entrepreneurial programming, best in class resources, and our focus on industry best practices and operational excellence. Our economic impact and success; however, is because of the dedication and commitment of our clients who strive every day to make our community and world a better place,” said LaPan.
The Dinah Adkins Award is one of two of InBIA’s industry top honors and recognizes entrepreneurship centers with proven track records of excellence. The award honors the legacy of Dinah Adkins, a pioneer in the field of business incubation. She led the Ohio University Incubation Center and was a founding member of InBIA. She served as president and CEO of InBIA from 1988 to 2009.
The Entrepreneurship Center of the Year 2020: Mixed Use award recognizes organizations serving a broad range of companies and not focused on a specific industry niche. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, The NIIC has implemented initiatives to serve women business builders, technology companies, healthcare innovators, and emerging entrepreneurs from underestimated/underserved communities including the disabled, veterans, immigrants, rural residents, minorities, formerly incarcerated and the hardest to employ.
About InBIA
The International Business Innovators Association (inbia.org ) is a global nonprofit organization that has welcomed and supported entrepreneurial organizations for over 30 years. Serving a diverse group of entrepreneurship centers, program managers, directors, and policymakers, InBIA helps guide, mentor, and develop sustainable entrepreneur support programs in every industry and demographic around the globe. InBIA’s goal is to enrich the entire ecosystem by providing industry resources, education, events, and global programming to help members better serve the needs of their unique communities and regions. InBIA’s mission is to help communities enable their entrepreneurs to transform their dreams into innovative businesses that make global prosperity a reality.
About The NIIC
467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs have achieved through The NIIC since its inception two decades ago. The NIIC has also connected Northeast Indiana companies to attract $91 million in grants and capital.
The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community designed to advise entrepreneurs to plan, launch, and grow successful business ventures. The NIIC bolsters innovative companies to move ideas into action. The NIIC is 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 is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.
