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 University of
Northern Iowa Entrepreneurial Center Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship, venture firms and small businesses make a critical contribution to
the U.S. economy by employing at least 80% of the work force and by fostering innovation
and economic development. To succeed, these firms need:
- effective plans;
- access to capital, technology and knowledge;
- to produce quality products and services; and
- to develop quality workers who are competitively compensated.
Universities are uniquely positioned to help entrepreneurs and small business managers
meet a great many of their most critical needs. However, to serve these needs universities
need to acquire and manage appropriate resources and facilitate connections between
clients and providers.
A generous gift by John Pappajohn to Iowa's three Regents Universities, Drake
University and North Iowa Area Community College has provided the funds needed to
establish a system of five Entrepreneurial Centers to enhance the effectiveness of
Iowa‘s entrepreneurs and small business managers.
At the University of Northern Iowa, the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC)
will work with various university, governmental and business partners to fulfill its
vision and achieve its goals in support of entrepreneurship in Iowa.
Vision and Goals
The vision of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Northern
Iowa is that it shall serve as a "virtual" resource center to coordinate
existing university resources, develop additional resources where needed and create
appropriate alliances to provide direct assistance in support of the capabilities and
activities of entrepreneurs managers of small and mid-sized businesses and those who
aspire to become entrepreneurs.
The J. P.E.C. at the University of Northern Iowa has two specific long-term goals:
- The primary goal of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is to foster the
development o/ entrepreneurship throughout Northeast Iowa and various other locations by
providing or facilitating support for a variety of direct educational, consultative and
other services.
- The Center shall conserve and develop its resources to the level required to perpetuate
its existence.
In support of both of these goals the Center must be sufficiently effective to be
attractive to both those it serves and those who provide resources for its continued
operation.
Business Services
- Seed Capital
- The JPEC currently offers a limited number of seed grants in the form of deferred,
no-interest forgivable loans up to $10,000 to start-up companies for a variety of
purposes. These grants are not intended to be the entire source of funds for a firm, but
rather a part of a broader package which the center can help the candidate to acquire.
When a firm has received funds from the center, it will also be included in our mentor
program to help with any problems the firm might have Grant applications may be obtained
by contacting the JPEC office.
- Development Services
- Before an entrepreneur is ready to begin the process of organizing a new company and
seeking capital, he or she may need consultation to help develop the venture concept or
product. Likewise, after establishing a new venture, help may be required to foster its
success. The Center offers a number of direct and consultative resources to aid in venture
development including, but not limited to:
- Concept Development through IPEC personnel and others, including selected community
business mentors.
- Market Analysis and Development through the Market Development Program.
- Planning and Venture Development through the Small Business Development Center.
- Mentor and incubation - offered through Center staff and others. The Cedar Falls
Utilities and UNI foundation work with the Center to make limited, subsidized space
available to start-up firms.
- Program Access - the Center helps individuals learn about and utilize the variety of
community-based and governmental programs, such as the Targeted Small Business Program,
which might aid in venture development.
- Technical Consulting - offered through a variety of university centers and departments
such as the Metal Casting Center, the Plastics Research Center, the Recycling and Reuse
Center. and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.
Educational Services
JPEC cooperates with n number of partners to develop and present a variety of
educational and professional development programs and services related to entrepreneurship
and small business management.
- College level programs for both business and non-business students. A key element of
these programs will be student involvement with active and developmental ventures.
- Management and Professional Development Programs - Both pre-configured and custom
programs arc offered through this of office of the College of Business. These programs are
designed to help entrepreneurs and managers deal with a number of common business issues
including: human resource management, leadership, team building, quality management,
financial management, and strategic planning.
- Public Education and Community Awareness JPEC will be working with the Center for
Economic Education and the community-based Junior Achievement Program to help both
teachers and K-12 students gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship. The Center
also produces a weekly radio program on KBBG in Waterloo.
- Web Site - Beginning in mid- 1997, the Center will operate a site on the World Wide Web
to provide a variety, of information resources. news items and other information of
interest to entrepreneurs and small firm managers.
- Case Studies - Starting in 1998, educators will be able to obtain selected business case
studies from the Center's Web site for use in education and training programs.
University of Northern Iowa
Dr. Peter G Goulet, President
Dr. Marion "Guy" Chiattcilo
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
College of Business Administration, Room 264
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0130
(319) 273-7350
jpec@uni.edu (E-mail)
http://www.uni.edu/jpec (Web)
Lyle Bowlin, Director
Small Business Development Center
8628 University Avenue
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0032
(319) 273-2696
Opening in mid-April:
JPEC Office of Business Development
200 E. Fourth Street
(Fourth & Sycamore)
Waterloo, IA 50701
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