Dickinson State University’s Strom Center is now supported by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, through its University Centers Program. The EDA’s mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA implements this mission by making strategic investments which are results driven and embrace the principles of technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development.

“This is a highly competitive process and we are both proud and honored to be selected as a recipient of EDA support to develop and implement a Business Incubation Program for southwest North Dakota,” said Strom Center Executive Director Steve Glasser.

This investment will be utilized to develop a virtual regional business incubator and entrepreneur coaching initiative. This incubation model will develop and deliver marketing, consulting, training, and research programs to strengthen the entrepreneur’s personal, professional, organizational and financial development. This model will have the ability to reach entrepreneurs with education, training, and coaching, and will serve those who are not in need of physical space.
The incubator will employ three innovative economic development strategies (virtual incubation, community collaboration, and entrepreneur coaching) to increase the economic competitiveness of growth oriented entrepreneurs in western North Dakota and eastern Montana.

Focus groups are being conducted in the SW ND region in December 2010 to gather input on what area economic developers and entrepreneurs would like to see included in the Business Incubation Program’s offerings.