Third Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute set for Aug. 3-8

The first week of August will be filled with young people - middle-school and college students - learning about entrepreneurship in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region. The third Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute will take place Aug. 3-8 at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory on West Lake Okoboji. Thirty-two students from the Regents universities, Buena Vista University and Iowa Lakes Community College will participate in advanced study of entrepreneurship that will include an entrepreneurial simulation,

seminars with successful entrepreneurs and business and community leaders, and networking, and mentoring to enhance their understanding of entrepreneurship opportunities in Iowa.

The college credit institute is a joint effort of the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa, Buena Vista University, Iowa Lakes Community College, and the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation.

"One of the goals of the Institute is to demonstrate that there are opportunities to create sustainable business ventures in Iowa," said David Hensley, a clinical professor.

Local businesses and civic organizations are providing various forms of support for the Institute, including paying the 32 students' tuition, hosting evening events, and networking with the students.

Students will work in teams on a computer-based simulation in the morning that incorporates the creation and operation of a new business and a fundraising round where the teams have to present their plans to community volunteer venture capitalists to acquire capital to fuel growth for their simulated companies. Residents of Great Lakes area are opening their homes to host the 32 students during the event, providing the students with a full quality of life experience in the region.

The first Iowa Lakes Corridor Middle School Entrepreneurial Academy will take place Aug. 4-8 at the Spencer Middle School. About a dozen young persons from all four counties will spend the week studying entrepreneurship, identifying business ideas, developing a business plan and competing for a small cash prize at the end of the week. The Iowa Lakes Corridor is funding the program which will be taught by Karla Kyle, business teacher at Harris-Lake Park High School. The students will have a lot of hands-on-learning and an opportunity to meet and hear from local entrepreneurs including Kevin Robinson, Tad Andreasen, and Sara Ruhs.

The Institute and the academy are part of an overall entrepreneurial initiative, economic gardening, of the four counties that make up the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation--Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, and Buena Vista--that includes life-long learning, access to information, access to capital, finding successful business people to mentor entrepreneurs, and continuously improving the quality of life in the region. Kathy Evert, President of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation said, "These two events, like the Be Your Own Boss seminar we sponsored in April, really can impact the lives of young people in our state and region; they are a tremendous asset and resource for our communities. These are great examples of what our region can do to retain and attract young people to our communities."

* The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is the regional economic development agency for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet Counties. Its mission is to foster, encourage, aid or otherwise assist in the growth and development of the four-county region. For more information, contact the Iowa Lakes Corridor at 264-3474 or email contact@lakescorridor.com.

This year's sponsors are: A&M Laundry, Avera Health, Bank Midwest, Tom and Molly Bedell, Berkley and Elinor Bedell, Community State Bank, Farmers Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, Fuel King Pellets, Graham Tire, Hoien Realty, Iowa Bankers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation, Krause Gentle Foundation, Metal Works, Ron & Sharon Morocco, Nolin Milling, Inc., Northwest Bank, Butch Parks, Bill Phelps DDS, MidAmerican Foundation, Pure Fishing, Michael & Ann Richards, Shine Bros. Corp, Dr. John B. Synhorst, Kirk Stauss, Tecton Industries, The Three Sons, Van Orsdel Family Foundation, and Winther, Stave & Co.