Albuquerque, NM – August 5, 2014 The momentum for a new innovation economy ignited by the Innovate ABQ project continues to move forward this week with several public-private entrepreneurial activities in Albuquerque. For an overview of the inauguration of several exciting programs, see the August 4, 2014 editorial, “Fostering Entrepreneurs Is a Smart Business Move,” from the Albuquerque Journal, reprinted below.
Editorial: Fostering entrepreneurs is a smart business move
Copyright © 2014 Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque is swinging for the fences with some new programs officials hope will be home runs for business innovation and high-paying jobs.
The city is backing initiatives to help budding entrepreneurs start businesses and to encourage economic development, as reported by Journal business writer Kevin Robinson-Avila.
Here’s what launches this week.
♦ Today ABQid Inc., kicks off its “venture accelerator” to provide training and mentoring for select startups. It is supported by a $1.9 million grant from the city.
♦ On Wednesday, 1 Million Cups, a weekly networking event created by the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation, will bring aspiring and veteran businesspeople together to discuss local startup initiatives.
♦ On Thursday, LeaderMatchABQ.com will get going with the goal of engaging talented business leaders to resolve community needs and problems.
♦ Also, today, Central New Mexico Community College and the city will celebrate the opening of the college’s new “PNM Pop-Up Pavilion” from 4 to 6 p.m. at First Plaza Galeria in Downtown next to the college’s new “STEMulus Center” for entrepreneurial and professional training. The portable pavilion, financed with $250,000 from Public Service Company of New Mexico, can be set up in various locations where people can gather for lectures, demonstrations and workshops.
Also starting today, Microsoft and the city are offering a free Youth-Spark Digi Camp for seventh- and eighth-graders to learn about careers in technology at Fat Pipe ABQ, a new Downtown incubator for information technology businesses.
These exciting initiatives will complement InnovateABQ, the University of New Mexico-city partnership to create an “innovation district” near Downtown, and UNM’s highly successful Science and Technology Corp., which helps entrepreneurs take university-developed research to market.
In these post-recession years, New Mexico can no longer count on government employment to prop up the state’s economy. So it makes perfect sense to encourage public private partnerships to create high playing jobs to fill the gap.
This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Source: Albuquerque Journal
For more information, contact:
Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board
(505) 823-3800